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I'm thinking about making beer with Licorice flavor as I like the taste of Licorice. I'm thinking some dark beer would be a good candidate a Stout maybe or some ale. I'm thinking some black Licorice sticks during the fermentation boil and maybe Licorice Root as well. Does anybody have experience with this ?

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Star anise also has a licorice flavour. I've used it in meads, it flavours it nicely. You could also use anise seed. – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner Oct 24 '12 at 21:09
@FrustratedWithFormsDesigner I would make that comment an answer, as I agree that would be the way to go. – hartski Oct 30 '12 at 13:34
@hartski: I left it as a comment because I've never tried it with beer. – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner Oct 30 '12 at 15:08
I have a Russian Imperial that used a large amount of various dark crystal malts. It's primary flavor is licorice/anise. – Dustin Rasener Nov 9 '12 at 17:32

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I made a honey licorice porter a couple of years ago, and it came out pretty well. I used dried licorice root at the end of the boil, which my LHBS sells. Like this: http://morebeer.com/view_product/15607//Licorice_Root_2_oz

The licorice flavor was subtle but noticeable, and pleasant against the malt base and roastiness in the porter. Here's the recipe, 5gal extract-based:

  • 7.0 lb liquid amber malt extract
  • 1.0 lb Crystal 80L malt
  • 0.5 lb Chocolate malt
  • 0.5 lb Black patent malt
  • 3.0 lb Clover honey
  • 1.0 oz Perle @ 60 min
  • 0.5 oz Fuggles @ 30 min
  • 0.5 oz Fuggles @ 5 min
  • 0.5 oz Dried licorice root
  • Wyeast 1084

Steep grains, add extract, and boil for 60 min, adding hops as directed. At flameout stir in honey, then add licorice root in a mesh bag and let steep for 30 minutes while wort cools.

OG around 1.070. FG around 1.015-1.020.

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Did you add the licorice during the boil or in secondary? – mrbuxley Oct 31 '12 at 8:34
At the end of boil. I found the recipe! Stuffed into the back of an old notebook. :) – Galapagos Jim Oct 31 '12 at 15:56
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Another option to steeping to attain the licorice flavors would be to prime with an anise based liqueur. I've had success with a few fruit flavored beers and liqueur priming. You'd want to find something with a lower abv though such as galliano/anisette as the higher test stuff like sambuca/ouzo won't have the sugar content.

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