• Heat 1 tablespoon oil until very hot in a large, heavy based pot over high heat.
• Pat beef dry with paper towels, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Brown beef aggressively in 2 or 3 batches, adding more oil if needed. Remove browned beef into a bowl.
• If pot looks dry, add a touch more oil.
• Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 minutes.
• Add carrot and celery, cook for 2 minutes or until onion is translucent.
• Stir in flour, then slowly pour in beef broth while constantly stirring.
• Add beer, water, tomato paste, bay leaves and thyme, stir well. Then add the beef back in.
• Cover, adjust heat to medium low so it's bubbling gently. Simmer 1 hr 15 min or until beef is pretty tender.
• Add potatoes and peas, simmer for a further 20 minutes without the lid. Add cooked mushrooms in the last 5 minutes.
• The soup is ready when the potatoes are cooked and beef is very tender.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crusty bread if desired.

Buttery Mushrooms (optional)

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.