Proper Job

Georgina Young, Brewing Director at St Austell Brewery, gives us her recommendations on some perfect food pairings.

If you’re looking for something different to try with dinner, you may already be asking yourself the age-old question ‘red or white?’. However, says Georgina: “I can safely say St Austell’s IPA, Proper Job, should be what you’re reaching for. We look to use as much Cornish barley as we can get our hands on to brew this punchy Cornish ale, which is packed with citrus fruits such as pink grapefruit as well as cedar wood and herby flavours from the American hops of Cascade and Chinook – sourced from the Yakima Valley.”

Whilst it may not be the obvious choice to opt for a pint over a glass of wine with a meal, Georgina explains that there’s something special that a beer can add which some wines just cannot rival. “Proper Job cuts through fats, complements the punchier flavours of a dish and contrasts to wake up the senses and ignite flavours you might not otherwise have recognised,” she explains. “Due to its large hop load, the beer will clear and refresh a palate with ease for rich and creamy dishes, working brilliantly with favourites like mac and cheese, deep-fried camembert, even just a smelly slice of Stinking Bishop cheddar!

“It also complements roasted garlic, sweet onions, rosemary, thyme, sage and citrus peel, and its bitterness will even help to balance salt in dishes. Sip a glass with miso and chilli glazed aubergine, which harmonise with the tropical pineapple and grapefruit flavours that Proper Job brings to the table, and serve it with sticky coconut rice, bok choy and roasted tenderstem broccoli. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, fierce chillies and sweet pomegranate and you have a culinary pairing that promises to deliver a burst of flavour with every mouthful.”

This punchy IPA pairs with favourites from the summer grill, too. As Georgina explains: “It contrasts with a range of smoky barbeque flavours like ribs, crispy chilli cauliflower or chicken wings and, if you’re in the mood for a south-east Asian curry, it’ll help to ease those punchy flavours, too. Proper Job is brewed to stand up to some big flavours, both savoury and sweet, in fact it will easily boost sweet treats like a juicy carrot cake, too!”

In short, you may well be surprised by just how well a beer can enhance an everyday dinner. And what better way to complement Cornwall’s already-famed foodie scene with a drop of Cornish-born beer?

St Austell Brewery
www.staustellbrewery.co.uk