Beef & stout stew with carrots

Name: Beef & stout stew with carrots
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 30 min
Cuisine: European, British
Ingredients: 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1kg stewing beef, cut into large chunks; 1 onion, roughly chopped; 10 carrots, cut into large chunks; 2 tbsp plain flour; 500ml can Guinness; 1 beef stock cube; pinch of sugar; 3 bay leaves; big thyme sprig; Creamy parsnip mash, to serve (see recipe below)