Jamie oliver beef in ale stew bitterness

[Pangurban1]

I followed the above recipe. However, the resulting stew was bitter. Has anyone added stock and has that improved the taste?

I had to buy the ale in a four pack and want to use it up.

Do you have any redcurrant jelly? Try stirring a spoonful through the stew, ale can be bitter and the sweetness balances the flavour, taste and add more if needed. No jelly add teaspoon of sugar, taste and adjust.

Thank you Penfold. I'll give that a try.

Did you cook it for long enough? Beef in ale is bitter if you take it out too early. Try cooking it a bit longer.

Definitely add sugar, it needs something sweet to counteract the bitterness.

Redcurrant jelly is lovely in stews.

The recipe I use for this which is very old has a spoonful of sugar.

It depends on which ale he's suggested. If it's a pale ale or a bitter then yes, it will be bitter. I'd suggest using Sam Smith's Nut Brown or a London Porter, or Theakston's Old Peculier, they are superb with beef. Lighter ales do not suit beef at all. Too hoppy and not enough sweetness.

I use that recipe (if it's the ministry of food one)
I add mushrooms, swap the onion for shallots, add oxo cube and sometimes some lea and perrins