Pennsylvania Swankey was a common style in this state before being lost due to Prohibition. The term "Swankey" comes from the German "schankbier", meaning a beer of lower than usual gravity. This historic and very American style was brewed to be a session beer (a tasty, low gravity, low alcohol beer that one could sip for an entire evening of socializing without becoming too inebriated or too full). In terms of body and color it’s similar to an English Mild Ale. It’s hopped just enough to balance the malt sweetness with American varieties and flavored with aniseed. Our recipe suggests 1/8 oz. (approximately 1.25 tsp.) of aniseed as a starting point. This will give your beer a very subtle licorice character. You can pump it up if you like but be forewarned, a little bit goes a long way and the licorice flavor is not for all tastes.