St. Austell Proper Job
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Tasting Notes
Proper Job leads with pronounced citrus and pine aromas from its heavy Cornish and American hop charge — Chinook, Willamette, and Cascade are in the mix. On the palate it delivers grapefruit pith, resinous pine, and a clean bitterness that's assertive without being aggressive. The malt backbone is present but lean, providing just enough biscuit sweetness to keep the hops in check. The finish is dry and lingering, with bitterness that stays on the tongue longer than most British IPAs of this weight.
About the Brewery
St. Austell Brewery is based in St. Austell, Cornwall, in the far southwest of England, and has been operating since 1851. It remains family-owned and is one of the most prominent regional brewers in the UK, running a substantial tied pub estate across Cornwall and Devon. Proper Job is comfortably their best-known beer nationally and has won multiple awards including CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain recognition. Their broader range spans traditional cask ales alongside more modern formats.
Food Pairings
The bold citrus and resinous bitterness here work well with fish and chips, where the hop bite cuts through frying oil and complements the malt vinegar tang. Spiced chicken dishes — jerk, tikka, anything with heat and char — find a natural counterpart in the citrus notes. A sharp mature cheddar holds its own against the bitterness and echoes the biscuity malt. Pulled pork with a mustard-based sauce pairs well because the fat and acidity of the dish soften the hop edge without flattening it.
Style Guide
English India Pale Ale sits between the more restrained British bitter tradition and the louder American IPA. Historically brewed at higher strengths for export to India during the British colonial period, the modern interpretation typically runs from around 5% to 7.5% ABV with firm but not extreme bitterness. English examples tend to emphasize earthy, floral, or citrus hops over the aggressive tropical fruit notes common in American versions, and carry a more noticeable malt foundation. Proper Job sits at the hoppier, more Americanized end of the English IPA spectrum, making it fuller in bitterness than a classic British bitter but less fruit-forward than a West Coast American IPA.