St Austell Brewery is giving lucky diners the chance to experience an evening of beer and paired food dishes, hosted by its brewing director, Georgina Young.
Georgina has more than 25 years in the brewing industry and currently holds the title of Brewer of the Year from the British Guild of Beer Writers.
The dinner, which will be held at the Punchbowl & Ladle, in Feock, this month, coincides with Cask Ale Week. To mark the occasion, diners will be greeted on arrival with a choice of two of St Austell Brewery’s best-loved cask beers: Tribute, the longstanding flagship pale ale, or Anthem, a golden pale ale brewed with 100% British ingredients.
Georgina started her brewing career in the South West, at Smiles Brewery in Bristol, before moving to Brewing Research International. She then went on to Fuller’s, famous for London Pride, becoming the first woman to take on the role of head brewer in the company’s history. She joined St Austell Brewery in 2019, overseeing its two breweries in Cornwall and Warmley, on the outskirts of Bristol.
Georgina said: “We can’t wait to welcome diners and share more about our beers, all paired with delicious courses designed to amplify and evoke all the different flavours you get in beer and how they work with different foods.
“For beer lovers, this will be a great way to enjoy our beers with a curated menu to compliment, and for those who generally prefer wine, I’d say come and give it a go. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.
“Beer isn’t one style or flavour; for instance, a Belgian-style beer typically has banana and clove notes from the yeast, whilst the bottle conditioning process that occurs in Hicks with our own yeast contributes rich toffee, raisin, and madeira. Earthy and piney bitterness comes from the hops but the way they react with food is very different. There’s plenty to discover!”
Oli and Annabel of the Punchbowl & Ladle
Each course on the menu, developed by Oli Alderson, head chef at the Punchbowl & Ladle, will be paired with samples of two beers. This will allow diners to compare how each chosen beer cuts or complements each dish.
Dishes including pan-seared scallops cooked in a lemon butter sauce with fennel, spinach and crispy onions, will kick off the menu, served with a wheat beer, Baobab, and St Austell Brewery’s flagship lager, korev.
The main will see diners feast on a slow-cooked belly of pork, rolled in a herby apricot stuffing, accompanied with Pommes Anna, apple, carrot and celeriac puree, tender-stem broccoli and finished with a red wine jus. The two beers to compliment will be Hicks and Proper Job, the first offering notes of toffee and fruity biscuits, the latter a powerful and authentic IPA that’s packed with citrus, pineapple, and grapefruit flavours.
A decadent chocolate mess with a white chocolate Chantilly cream, raspberry coulis, sour candied orange and fresh raspberries will wind down the evening, paired with rich and complex Mena Dhu stout, alongside one of the strongest beers St Austell Brewery has ever released — 13% ABV Divine Intervention, which is rich in mahogany and fruits.
Finally, diners will enjoy a selection of West County cheeses alongside Big Job, Proper Job’s stronger sibling, and Extra Special Tribute, which is being released in September.
The event takes place on 24th September and tickets will be priced at £60 per person. To find out more and to book, click here.
