Stone Levitation Ale

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Amber Ale
Escondido, California USA

12 oz bottle. This is an amber? It tastes like no other amber I’ve ever had. That’s a compliment. When I first heard that Stone created an amber ale, I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t seem like something this hop-obsessed brewery would do. Then I tasted it. It has Stone written all over it. Most ambers are too malty for my taste. This beer is balanced nicely with plenty of hops. Smells of sweet malt, a little musty. Pours brownish amber, small head, good lacing. Tastes of raisins. The label says it all: there’s more character in this 4.4% alcohol beer than any other beer I can think of in this range. Well done, Stone.

This deep amber ale has rich & roasty malt flavors, a big hoppy character, citrus overtones (courtesy of the hops and our special brewers yeast) and modest alcohol.

an amazingly potent amber ale, one with a heavier dose of hops and malts than i expected. definitely one to try if you are a fan of amber ales.

Pours amber with a small white head.lightest beer I think stone makes.Good beer.

pours an opaque ruby/brown color with a mediium tan head...dissipates quickly but returns nicely with agitation. very subtle refrshing aroma with hints of grassy and spicy hope..smells like fresh hop flowers. roasty and oaky maltiness rounded out with spiciness and hints of citrus. creamy and thick mouthfeel with lots of bubbly action...finish dries out quickly and lingers for a bit...i really like this session beer!!

Pours amber color with just a little white head. Has a hoppy malty smell to it. A slight citrus taste with a tiny bitter finish. Just an okay beer for Stone

Amber with a lasting white head. Strong aroma of grapefruit with orange peel and a hint of malt. Sweet grapefruit juice flavour with medium hop bitterness

Hoppy and easy to drink but the sum of flavors doesn’t work for me. I like that Stone is selling a low abv beer, and they’re doing a pretty good job at packing a big flavor into a little beer. However, something about the combination of citric hops and spicy caramel malt doesn’t really work for me. The beer pours a medium mahogany with a nice head that laces the glass well. The aroma is heavy on American hops with a good grapefruit flavor. There’s also a very nice, light caramel malt note. I love good session beers, but this one doesn’t quite come together. The flavors just seem at odds with each other on the palate. Carbonation is good, and the beer is otherwise well-crafted. It really comes down to some kind of ethereal, entirely subjective reaction. I think that I’m mostly reacting to the malt choices, but it could be anything. So, I’d recommend this beer, but I’m also not going to go out and buy it for myself.