A beer from an award winning brewery located in the Cornish town of St Austell. A traditional brewery dating back some 170 years. This is a powerfully hopped India Pale Ale, but is Proper Job IPA any good?
Being a brewery that has been around a while you would expect it to be a more old style IPA. However when they say it is powerfully hopped, maybe it’s a more modern take on this classic style. There is only one way to find out.
Is Proper Job IPA Any Good?
Yes it is a good IPA, a solid dependable old style with a new style citrus twist. Pour into a glass and you are faced with pure gold wearing a white cap. The nose is moderately hoppy with an explosion of zesty lemon citrus perfume. The taste again has a moderate hoppy front with a strong citrus hitting the mouth and waking up the buds. Acidic lemon and grapefruit tingle the tongue while a bitterness walks in and takes over to a satisfying finish. It’s crisp and it’s fresh and gets a rate my beer score of 4.5 – 5.0.
I’m tempted to say this IPA is a proper Job, I couldn’t resist 🙂
St Austell Brewery
The story of St Austell Brewery starts 171 years ago back in 1851 when a Walter Hicks decided to mortgage his farm to start a new business.
The business was a wine merchant and maltster and he was pretty successful. The wine business still runs to this day and is the leading wholesale distributor in the west.
Wine wasn’t Walters only passion and in 1863 he acquired the Seven Stars Inn in St Austell. Those days saw pubs with the facility to brew beer for sale in the pub. Walter learnt the art of brewing and this was the start of the brewery we see today.
1893 saw a new brewery built in Tregonissey Lane which is where the brewery still stands to this day. Although there have been many alterations and modernisations, the main brewery still stands and is very much in use.
The brewery expanded and built its own estate pubs and hotels. In recent years they have acquired Bath Ales in 2016, Hare Brewery which opened in 2018 and opened their own small batch brewery at the St Austell site.
Head brewer Roger Ryman who is featured in the video is no longer with us and sadly lost his fight to cancer in 2020. But we have Roger to thank for the likes of Tribute and Proper Job, so thank you Roger.
St Austell brewery is still in the same family and remains an independent brewery, Hoorah!
Is Proper Job IPA Any Good?
It depends what you want from an IPA. Many like the old style traditional IPA, whereas others like the spikey new style IPA’s with fruity madness.
I like both and Proper job kind of gives both the old and new style in one beer. It has that hoppy front with a medium malt base of the old style. However it also has the zingy citrus hoppiness of American hops lending an edge towards the modern style IPA’s
It is something to behold a solid body with a light fresh feel to it. M’Lady said for her it had a sort of lager vibe. What is she saying, it’s an IPA M’Lady.
For me it felt like a standard IPA, but some how delivered way more than that, giving it a magical edge. Although it says powerfully hopped, for me it wasn’t overly hoppy, just right with the malty body. A good balance with a zesty feel.
Drinking Proper Job IPA
The label is a bit like the beer, understated yet appealing at the same time. It has classic style label with just a hint of loud green that shouts anomalous. I may look reserved but I have more under the bonnet than expected.
Pop the crown and the pour reveals a clear golden beer with a light fluffy head. The head fades to the thinnest of cover barely containing the gold below.
The nose is a hoppy citrus aroma that bursts with lemon and grapefruit. Concentrate and there is a light pine too, but it is overpowered by the citrus circus.
The taste follows the nose with a hoppy front and hard hitting citrus of lemon and grapefruit. A softer fruit of maybe pineapples floats around in the background. The citrus hit masks a mild malt body that fades to make way for a high end bitter edge.
It is a smooth mouthfeel with medium carbonation. The aftertaste is a satisfying bitterness with an almost peppery twist.
It’s powerful but at the same time crisp and light with a real fresh feel.
At 5.5% Vol it is just outside a session beer, although one isn’t enough. However on tap it is a lesser 4.5% Vol so safe to indulge in a second if drinking it in the pub.
A solid rate my beer score of 4.5 – 5.0 for a solid beer. Lou’s score is a slightly lower 4.4 – 5.0, but liked it all the same.
More Rated Beers
The St Austell Range
So Walter did well and built a brewery that would sustain the ups and downs of commercial business through the years. Today the brewery are producing a great range of beers, a range that I will definitely be working through.
They have even collaborated with Mr Filberts the snack company to produce some Proper Job Beery Nuts. The perfect snack to enjoy with a pint of Proper Job, something else I will have to try out.
Here are a few of the beers St Austell have to offer.
Tribute
Tribute is a Cornish Pale Ale that is brewed with Cornish Gold Malt and a combination of hops from the UK and US. It’s a pale amber beer with aromas of orange zest and tropical fruits. These come through on the taste with an orange and grapefruit floating over a balanced malt base.
It is a sessionable 4.2% Vol across the board whether bottle, can or tap. It is said to be a tribute to the people of Cornwall for their spirit and approach to life.
Although I have had Tribute before on tap, it was a long time ago. I will have to refresh my memory with a tipple soon. But from what I do remember (not a lot) it is a decent pint.
Korev
Korev is a lager and this crisp light golden beer is marketed as the coast in a glass. The color glistens like the sun, while the fresh crisp aroma is like the coastal breeze. Wait for it, the taste is totally refreshing like the waves of the ocean.
Apparently you have to drink it all in, well that is fine with me, I’m going all in and its on my beer hit list. This clean crisp lager weighs in at 4.8% Vol across the board, so stays within the session limits.
I know I haven’t had this beer, but I know I am going to have this beer.
Hicks
Hicks Is a Traditional Cornish Ale and as you would expect is named after the founder of the brewery Walter Hicks. A strong style ale that is dark ruby in color with aromas of raisins and toffee. A full bodied ale with tastes of fruits and bitter hops.
A deep malty background balances the beer out for a deep and complex flavor. At 5.0% Vol in bottles as well as casks it sits on the session border. A true real ale that befits a leather armchair by the fireside on a cold crisp evening.
As traditional as Walter himself.
Final Thoughts
St Austell brewery then is an old style traditional brewery with a good stand on the modern styles of beer. Mixing old and new they produce a great range of beers.
Some of these beers include the likes of Anthem a British pale ale and Cardinal Syn Abbey Dubbel a hefty 7.8% Vol Monastic brew. But there are plenty more from the traditional to the modern.
Seeing it is a brewery that has been around a while, I am sure many of you have had a St Austell tipple or two. Share your thoughts about your experience and opinion on their beers.
Rob is a passionate home bar and pub shed enthusiast with a passion for craft beer. With hands-on experience in designing and building his own home bar, Rob shares his knowledge, tips, and inspiration to help fellow enthusiasts create their own perfect space. Alongside the world of home bars and pub sheds, Rob also explores the diverse and exciting realm of craft beer, providing honest reviews to help you discover your next favorite brew. Join Rob on a journey of flavor, design, and craftsmanship right here on Home Bar Kit.
Proper Job is great when you’re lucky enough to be in Cornwall to drink it. I am amply compensated though by having it for £2.89 a pint at my local (Mondays and Thursdays), The Old White Horse in Stourbridge. Now that’s Proper Job ??
Pete that is a proper job, having it in your local pub and at a great price too. Slightly jealous I must admit, have one for me next time.
Cheers Rob
Get it in all supermarkets around the county lovely pint where ever you are
Hi Ken,
You are right it is a lovely pint and it has proved popular among my readers. The fact that it is readily available in stores around the UK is great. Well done for St Austell brewery for getting to us.
Cheers
Rob
I love proper job hoppy hoppy and then some love it.
Reg you are right it is a great beer, a solid old style IPA with a great citrus twist. I was lucky enough to have it on tap last year when I was in Devon. But a bottle or two finds itself in my fridge from time to time too.
Cheers
Rob
Had Proper Job for the first time at the Brewery in St Austell whilst on holiday in the area recently. Loved it, the beer and the holiday! Now I am overjoyed to find that bottled Proper Job is available in my local Lidl, and cheaper than buying it at the brewery. Well, that’s a Proper bargain.
Hey Colin it’s great that you got to visit the brewery and enjoy this beer where it is actually brewed. Cornwall is a great place to holiday, as is neighbouring Devon.
It is hard to understand how a supermarket can sell a beer cheaper than the brewery, but hey who’s complaining just enjoy it.
Cheers
Rob
I too am a great fan of proper job,but my go to beer is a pint of cask pulled Tribute, I also visited the brewery in St Austell a highly recommend experience they have there own spring perhaps it’s the good clear water that makes the beer a winner.
Great to have been able to visit the brewery Colin, the spring water must have something to do with the great taste of their beers. I haven’t had a pint of Tribute for a long time, so maybe I should reacquaint myself with that one. Also next time I am in the west country I should go down to the brewery.
Cheers
Rob
I’m not convinced it’s proper job all the time, I suspect it was being contract brewed in Bath as you can get seemingly different tasting beer depending on where you live ,I did contact the brewery to ask to which they didn’t reply so you can form your own opinion,I’m not saying the rumour is true and would not like to be quoted for legal reasons obviously but would like the matter clarified
Alan it is an interesting point to make. I can’t say whether this is true either, however they do own Bath Ales which also stock Proper Job.
If it was brewed there too, and I am not saying it is, it could taste different because the water in Bath will be different to the water in Cornwall. It is an easy question for the brewery to clarify, so I can’t understand why they did not reply to you.
If I find out anything further I will come back and report.
Thanks
Rob
Superb beer, certainly one of the very best from one of the very best breweries.
I think the name fits this beer well William, there seem to be lots of fans out there. The brewery certainly do produce some great beers. I haven’t had all of their beers, but I will be working my way through them.
Cheers
Rob
Proper job has been my favourite for some time I just hope my local Tesco keeps stocking it. I would love to try it on draft but no sign of it in Scottish pubs.
I hope your local shop keeps stocking it too Gordon, however if they do stop it in the future you can get it online from the St Austell Brewery. It might work out a little more expensive, but at least you can get it delivered to your door.
I was lucky enough to have a couple of pints of Proper Job on tap last year when I was in Devon. It is obviously great from the tap, but not as strong, which is probably a good thing. Since then I have been getting it in bottles as its not in the pubs in my area either.
Cheers
Rob
Hey Gordon, The Nicholson chain of pubs sometimes have Proper Job and Tribute, as St Austell makes their pale ale! Glasgow and Edinburgh have Nicholsons.
Cheers?
In my opinion, Hicks Special Draft is about the best beer you can get anywhere, as long as it is out of the cask. This of course is my own opinion so it must be right 🙂
Hicks special Draught named after the founder of the brewery is on my hit list Mainslaught. So I will report my opinion when I try it, although it will not be cask as it is not available in my area. A bottle it will be then, but I am still looking forward to trying it.
Cheers
Rob
Hi Rob I’ve done my own blind taste on people and when they can’t see the label /pump clip swear blind it’s a different beer it’s strange a lot of people drink with their eyes so when is a proper job not proper? Even though I’m not a wealthy man I’ve lived a charmed life regarding beer and have visited well over 900 micro breweries across Europe and the UK I will forward a list of some of my top 10 when I collect my thoughts should you wish
Hey Alan that blind test is a tricky business, it can even catch out a cicerone or two. I will have to get Lou to try this on me one day to see how I get on. Have you done a blind test and if so how did you get on?
Wow visiting that many breweries across Europe and the UK is pretty impressive. I would love you to forward a list, that would be great.
Thanks
Rob
Ok Rob here we go. De Ranke xx bitter ,Tettnanger Pils, U Tri Ruiz sletvy ,Northern Whisper IPA ,Brauere Hufeisen Pottenstien ,Westmalle (Brugge on draught only place to get it) ,Pivovorsky Dum , Uneticke Pivo ,Airbrau (Munich airport pils and belles) ,Boddingtons (about 60’s), De Garre ,and my favourite best beer of all time,sadly they fell out and the brewery is no more? Pivovar U Dobrenskych , lemon grass and mint sletvy/pilsner the best beer the planet has ever had ,should I think of anymore I will forward them to you cheers Alan
Hi Alan,
That is a great list, I will go through them and see if I can source any of them to try. The last one your favorite beer Pivovar U Dobrenskych , lemon grass and mint sletvy/pilsner is on a list of beers on Rate Beer, it has a score of 3.43 and there are 20 reviews. Thanks very much Alan for taking the time to provide this list, much appreciated.
Cheers
Rob
That’s ok Rob of course these beers were all draught,the Northern Whisper is in Rawtenstall Lancashire,I’ve been trying for years to find out what happened to the brewer at Dobrenskych without luck and wondered if he packed in or is still brewing somewhere a truly talented man any info would be appreciated,another brewery ,Hubner Brau Wattendorf Pils
Thanks again Alan, if I come across any information I’ll be sure to you let know. Cheers, Rob
I too visited the brewery recently, really informative and a great time was had!
I do like Proper Job and Tribute, had a good few on cask when working down at Devonport not far from Plymouth!
I always look out for them, but being 530 miles away!
Although the Nicholsons chain of pubs sometimes have them!
Cheers Barry
Hi Barry,
Yea that is a long way to go for a few pints, but at least you made the most of it while you were in that area. Great job visiting the brewery too. Well done for letting Gordon know about the Nicholsons pubs, you just might of changed his life.
Cheers
Rob
I love proper job I live in Northampton I come to Cornwall six times a year it taste s better I have tried big job and black ipa
Hi Ken,
Proper Job is a great beer, interesting that it tastes better in Cornwall, no travelling I Guess. Big Job and Black IPA are on my beer hit list. What did you think of them?
Cheers
Rob
Proper Job is a great hoppy IPA but as a home brewer I wish that the label was easier to remove. There’s nothing more sustainable than using a bottle again and again.
Hi Anthony,
As you say Proper Job is a great beer. However, I never realised that it had the problem you describe and no one would unless they try to remove the label. A great job that you are recycling the bottles and great that you are brewing your own beer. My first brew day is next weekend and I can’t wait, but never even thought about labels being hard to remove. I wonder if all of St Austell’s labels are hard to remove or if it just Proper Job. Thanks for sharing this, it seems like they did a proper job with the label as well as the beer.
Cheers
Rob