I have been mulling over how to describe this with taste notes. Today
I was having a burger steak with a little A-1 sauce and this beer was
in the mix. I got a fairly strong note of Black Licorice in the olfactory.
Took me a long time to recognize this because I do not eat Black Licorice.
I'm not a big fan of black licorice or anise-flavored liquors, but there are a few hops that I get that note from and it really works in certain beers. I get that flavor from EKG, and it pairs well with the caramel and toffee notes from English Crystal malts.
I think I might have to give this a try. I have a Baltic Porter on deck that would be a good fit, I think.