Licorice, Suckers! Belgian IPA?

Tap @ Brewery Helsinki brewpub. Almost clear amber with a medium sized off-white head. Not very strong aroma, but interesting. Fruity, yeast, malt and spicy. Flavor is sweet malt, citric fruity, yeast, spices and hint of liquorice. Medium body and average aftertaste. Drinkable and interesting without starting a revolution.

Tap@ Bryggeri Helsinki. Amber colored, thick lasting white head. Anise, medicine notes, smoothness. Interesting aroma. Ripe banana, aniseed, malt, hops. Belgian wibes, like the licorice notes, and the smoothness. Pleasant.

Tap at Gastropub Nordic, Tampere. Deep amber color, steady beige head. Aroma has fruits, alcohol and some yeast. Medium-bodied. Nice mix of Abbey yeast dark fruits, berries and licorice. Sweetish finish with some banana. Interesting and so far the best of Donut Island beers.

(Keg at Pikkulintu, 20141018) The beer poured brown and hazy. Its head was medium sized and white. Aroma had malts, sweetness, yeast and malty bread. Palate was medium bodied and stinging with medium carbonation. Flavours were malts, yeast, fruitiness, spiciness, saltiness and bitterness. Aftertaste was sweet, spicy and bitter. Too many flavours for me to have in one go

Tap at Pikkulintu, Helsinki. Colour cloudy dark orange with small white head. Aromas and flavors: Some fruits, licorice, some sweetness and malts. Licorice is actually very dominating and everything else still is farmhouse elements. This is one of those beers which is changing very much after aging. Mystery.

Tap at Oluthuone Kaisla, Helsinki. Pours nice copper-brown, not really clear but beautifully bright colour. Aroma is distinctively Belgian. It has some sweet caramel and candy sugar, spices. No strong hops. Taste is quite Belgian also, sweet candy, spices - cloves, cinnamon. Some hop bitterness at the end. Cannot really put my finger on this licorice character, maybe there is something mixed with bitter finish. Nice beer, was actually a bit afraid that licorice would be too overpowering but nope, it is nicely balanced beer of Belgian character. Me like it.

Cask @ Black Door
Aroma has strawberries and peaches. Feels fruity, sweet and somewhat heavy. Flavour has caramel, toffee alcohol and hints of licorice. Not very Belgian or licorice, but perhaps a bit IPA though. Also licorice comes through once it warms up, as well does the grassy hops. Too messy and boozy.