THE brewer of the year hosted a special evening to showcase how St Austell Brewery’s quality beers compliment fine food.

Georgina Young, the brewing director at St Austell Brewery, curated a beer and food pairing evening at the Punchbowl and Ladle in Feock to coincide with Cask Ale Week, which is an annual celebration of cask beer - Britain's national drink.

Dishes included pan-seared scallops cooked in a lemon butter sauce with fennel ( )

Each course on the menu, developed by Oli Alderson, the head chef at the Punchbowl & Ladle, was paired with samples of two beers, which allowed diners to compare how each chosen beer cuts or complements each dish.

Each course on the menu was paired with samples of two beers ( )

The beer pairings included a few of Georgina’s personal favourites, alongside some specials from St Austell Brewery’s Belgian beer range and limited-edition brews.

The beer pairings included a few of Georgina’s personal favourites ( )

Dishes included pan-seared scallops cooked in a lemon butter sauce with fennel, spinach and crispy onions kicked off the menu, served with a wheat beer – Baobab, and St Austell Brewery’s flagship lager, korev.

There were specials from St Austell Brewery’s Belgian beer range and limited-edition brews ( )

The main saw 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 chosen to compliment the main were 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 helped 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.

A decadent chocolate mess with a white chocolate Chantilly cream, raspberry coulis, sour candied orange and fresh raspberries helped wind down the evening ( )

Finally, diners enjoyed a selection of West County cheeses alongside Big Job, Proper Job’s stronger sibling, and Extra Special Tribute, which is being released in September.

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.

She started her brewing career in the South West, at Smiles Brewery in Bristol, before moving to Brewing Research International.

Georgina 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: “It was fantastic 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, it was a great way to enjoy our beers with a curated menu to compliment.

“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.”