Stone Levitation Ale

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

The quality of the hop flavor in this is the best I’ve tasted. Unless you don’t like hop flavor at all you should like this. I tried it side by side with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale which normally is at the upper limit of my desired hoppiness, but Levitation Ale was much hoppier and tasted better overall.

I generally like the bombastic nature of Stone beers; I love the Arrogant Bastard and their Imperial Stout is simply the best... but this has supplanted them in my pantheon. Levitation Ale really is the summation of all Stone’s craft, attention to detail and refusal to compromise in a singular brew that is nearly perfect in every respect. Were I forced to come up with a criticism, I think it would be that I like beers that generally top 6 to 7 percent ABV, but for this beer, the 4.4 is perfect and just adds to its drinkability... Rock on, Stone!

Wow. This is fan-freakin-tastic. This is my new favorite. Hoppy as all get-out. Citrusy, hits hard,grapefruit not subtle at all. Not for the faint of heart. Deep end of the pool. If you don’t love this, then shame on you. Bottle from local grocer. Best ever.

This beer was badass. Copper red with a HUGE off-white foamy head. It had a grassy hoppy smell with a good deal of grapefruit. Definitely a grassy, grapefruit taste with a crisp hoppy finish. This beer was the shit.

This is the beer that I return to after quaffing the heavy hopped brews. It is an excellent daily brew.

This is a tremendous Amber Ale. Stone brews are freaking awesome!!! Good hoppy flavor, Citrusy, definitely rich and a mouthful in every sip. There is nothing about this beer that makes it Modest. Might only be 4.4% but that doesn’t make it modest. Great Beer. I’m sure the rest of you already know this. Great bottle too. Might be the best one in my collection. Etched beer bottles are very cool.

A deep amber color a very consistent color all the way through. A light tan head forms on top, a half inch high, lacing slowly down the glass. A strong grassy and pine fragrance stands out from the glass. That is followed by a slight sweet malty scent. A bread, malt and cracked grain flavors starts out the taste. That is followed by the grass and pine flavors, bringing a tobacco flavor at the end. A strong grassy hop flavor lingers, long after each taste. A medium bodied feel, that gradually gains weight slightly, finishes with mild dryness. This may be the most hop flavored session beer I have had, period. The colorful and enticing look, along the unforgettable aroma and intense flavor, make this the hop heads choice for a session beer.

Wow, what a fantastic looking pale, super deep, dark coppery color thats very hazy and rusty with a thin tan head that faded fast with minimal drippy, spotty lace. Its only fault really as far as appearance. Aroma is a nice mix of roasty malts, dried pretzeled bread, dried hops that has a touch of piney resin and dried wood, maple syrup noted on some bigger wiffs. Taste is outstanding, perfect blend of malts in the front with a superb roastyness thats not overpowering, chewy, or sweet. Hops come in soon there after with a nice dried sense of leaves, pine, resin, bittering is intensely fine and lingers well with a small return in the roastyness of malts showing through. A great backbone in this one. Feel is medium bodied with a nice little hoppy texture in the finish. Finished this one in no time due to it being the only Stone brew I've had thats not in the bomber but in a 12 ouncer. Oh, plus its damn good; smooth, packed with nice flavors and body. Nothing empty about this beer but my glass and bottle- now that I'm done: I wan't another!