Levitation Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

oberon

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I finally got around to buying this ale,it had been long enough.Poured into a standard pint glass a lighter shade of amber with a thinner but well retained clingy white head.Almost all pine and grapefruit rind in the nose wich is fine by me,just a faint whif of sweet caramel is there as well.Lighter mouthfeel with hop dominated flavors,quite citric with some lighter pine notes,the caramel base gives off some blancing sweetness.A easy drinking hopped up amber ale,nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 01:26:08 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When I told Greg back in 2002 that I wasn't fond of the Levitation Ale, he told me to try it again because it had just been reformulated. Well, I'm finally getting around to it now!!!

As I remember it (but it has been close to 3 years), it's pretty much the same beer with the IBU's dropped a bit; a little less citrusy hops in the flavor; and some added chocoate notes in the malt.... and it's improved!

It still has a great appearance with it's chestnut-brown and ruby-cast body topped by a creamy dollop of ivory foam. There's still a very nice caramel maltiness with an added, delicate touch of chocolate to the malt; and its bristling touches of hops spice it up. It still finishes dry to be sure, but the bitterness doesn't linger quite as strong as it used to.

For fans of brown ale (such as myself), and mild beers (such as myself), this is a really interesting and enjoyable take on the brown ale style. Very nice!

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2005 23:30:47 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

"How 'bout the power of flight? That do anything for ya? That's levitation, homes." It pours a clear sunrise russet topped by a finger of staunch light cream foam. The nose comprises pine, oregano, grapefruit peel, light toffee, and red pepper. The taste holds notes of pine, grapefruit, light caramel, honeydew, and a small pinch of pepper. The body is a very light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly drying finish. Overall, a very nice hoppy red, one that pleasantly runs the gamut from spicy to piny in terms of the hops involved. Good times. Now they need to make a new one called Telekinesis (something about mind bullet killing a yak from long distances is floating around in my head for some reason)...

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 08:10:42 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

With a name like this, I'd expected a lighter-than-air quality, a wheat beer or a kolsch. But I must have forgotten that I was deaing with
stone, who will dash any expectation.
Pours a dark, rustic brown, more a light crimson around the foot and sides.
Head is thick, fluffy, creamy.
Aroma: sweet and malty at the fore,deep, spicy, rich, a little vinous, with a good batch of hops. Taste is the very peg of a red ale, or an Irish, done right.
Greets the tongue mildly, though loaded with flavor. Lacks thee extremeness of the big Stone brews, and is quite accessible, not so scary at all.
Medium body, nice, malty, toasty finish, very pleasant and tasty overall.
If this were available in this market, Levitation would have a regular spot reserved in my fridge.
Big thanks to xlperro for this "extra"

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2003 18:01:15 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a ruby red color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a solid pale and crystal, and bisquit malt scent along with a nice hop aroma that balances it out nicely. The taste is good as well. It's bitter up front with a bisquity finish. The hops really make this beer. It's a low alcohol brew with tons of flavor. It's easy drinking with a dry,hoppy finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a great session beer. It's complex, yet low enough in alcohol that you can drink a sixer and not be loaded.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2009 00:49:32 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a snifter. Beer is amber to brown and clear. Forms a thin white head of small bubbles that breaks up into a diffused head that fails to cover the top of the beer. Carbonation is moderate to low and the head leaves lacing on the glass.

Aroma is strongly hoppy. Good citrus hop aroma and a slight sweetness. Smells really really good.

Beer is medium bodied and has a good hop character to it. There is a lot of bitterness at the back end. I love session beers, I truly and seriously do. This is one of the best session beers available. Its cheap and wonderful. Second taste, some sweetness up front, mouthfeel and drinkability are good.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2010 22:44:38 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle provided by Exiled.

Beer pours dark orange-red with a white head. The aroma is certainly more hoppy than your standard red ale, but that is to be expected from Stone. The aroma is hoppy, with some pine and earthy hop notes. The flavor is definitely hoppy, with some piney hop flavor as well as some caramel malt. This beer is very drinkable and packs great flavor into a low alcohol package.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 20:07:15 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.48/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

A - Beautiful looking beer. Clear amber color with a three-finger, tan head of thick foam that slowly receded. It took me several pours to empty the 12oz bottle into my pint glass. It left behind sheets of intricate lace patterns on the sides of the glass.

S - Is this an IPA? It smelled of pine and citrus. Very little maltiness or caramel that you would expect in an amber ale.

T - Spicy upon first sip with bready malt flavors. The bitterness is tame compared to the hoppy aroma but still pack a good bite with some citrus flavors.

M - It was crisp, sharp and finish very dry. A light to medium bodied beer.

D - The perfect session beer and possibly the best amber that I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 02:40:04 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly hazy amber in color and has a light amount of carbonation with lots of particles visible floating in suspension. It poured with a finger high beige head that quickly died down and gradually faded away, leaving rings of bubbles down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of citrus hops in the nose (smells of grapefruit stand out in particular) along with some hints of pine resin hops.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has a mild amount of bitterness; there are some hints of caramel malts in the initial taste.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is very easy to drink and is quite sessionable given its low alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 03:58:29 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A strong malty aroma wafts from the glass as I pour, caramel malt perhaps. Pours with a thick tan head, it is pretty clear and a dark amber color. The aroma of hops is dominant in the aroma but a solid malt presence is there as well. Definitely a bitter beer. Some sweetness is here but not really perceptible as the hops dominate the residual sweetness. A certain fullness in the mouth from this "light" beer from stone. Not enough hop flavor is in this beer for me, it would help to balance this beer out. This beer is super hoppy, but it needs more flavor hop contributions (or perhaps different ones). Pretty well balanced for a super hoppy low gravity ale. The malt notes really help to carry this beer. As it warms up, I realize that this beer may be a bit old, it tastes like it might have begun to oxidize (Stone where is the bottle date?).

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2003 17:44:40 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired via trade from Phocion, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him.
Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is an orangish-brown color, with a thin yellowish-brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of hops, caramelized malt and tea.

T: The well-balanced and straight-forward flavors of hops and caramelized malt compliment each other the way through as you drink it. There’s a little bit of sweetness in there, but as Stone does so well, it’s only enough enhance the beer rather than mask anything.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

D: Tasty, easy-drinking, not filling, this one is a good basic beer. I found this beer to be good for its simplicity. Stone knows how to knock you over with their big beers, but with this one they show that they know how to give you something easy. It’s yet another excellent beer from Stone.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2006 04:09:47 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours caramel/red with a 3 fingers+ sand colred head. Good head retention & very good lacing

S: Great piney hops nose up front, followed by fruiityness as it warms

Taste: Nice piney/floral hop kick up front then fruittyness. peppery hops dominate the quenching finish

MF: Very full for its abv, medium body with good balance & carbonation

Drinks quite well, I enjoy this as much as some of their hi powered ales. I think this a nice one to enjoy while listening to/watching a storm blowing off the rockies

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2006 01:08:01 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another really good drinking brew from Stone, much like their Pale Ale and IPA, this brew falls into the same basic catagory. The beer poured out as a nice looking amber color with a decent white colored head on it with a good lacing also. The smell of the beer is malty, much more malty than most stone brew that I'm aware of. The taste of the brew does have a good hoppiness to it along with some nice caramel flavors too. The mouthfeel is drinkable and overall I think this brew is pretty damn good.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 04:27:26 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle.

A: Copper-red/brown with white/tan head.

S: Piney hops basically, with some malt mixed in.

T: Piney hops, biscuit malts, really resiny, hops a bit too astringent for my tastes, but overall very nice.

M: Above average, medium-bodied.

D: Low in alcohol makes this a good session beer choice, but I found myself really not wanting more than one, a beer I'll have to revisit at some point though.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 06:06:41 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

BBD 10-21-10

Poured into a small Hamms goblet, Levitation has a tawny amber tone, fairly bright clarity and specked with barely visible micro sediment throughout. A slim one finger cap of foam rests on top, and it leaves a tan collar as it deflates. Retention is good, and a ring of lacing remains in the glass.

Toasty, nutty malts in the nose with a hint of citrus peel from the hops. Seems like an American take on an English Mild.

Dense with malt flavor, there's a concentrated grapefruit bitterness from the hops that is very refreshing, receding into a long bitter aftertaste. Feel is light, with ample carbonation to carry it. Stone definitely puts their west coast stamp on a Bitter here.

It's light enough to session, and is packed with toasty malt flavor with Stone's trademark hoppiness. Definitely has it's place in their lineup, this is what i'll reach for when i'm thirsty and don't want a huge DIPA or Imperial Stout...

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 22:51:27 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: copper / orange in color with a nice two finger head that lasts. Some nice lace paitns the glass during the session.

Aroma: caramel and some bread-like tones are soft but pleasant.

Taste: fresh baked bread, caramel, plums, red grapes, and a moderate bitterness makes up a nicely flavored ale.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied but is noticably thinner than other Stone beers. Lightly crisp throughout.

Drinkability: serious session ale here that anyone can drink all night. A nice example of a lower alcohol beer with some flavor and depth.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2009 23:38:18 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to PhxHorn for this!

Pours hazed copperish amber with a thin lasting head that leaves webs of lacing.

The smell has a "Stone" house character with flroral and citric notes.

The taste is of light caramel, the "Stone" house character (probably from the yeast strain) and a bitterish citric/herbal touch in the finish.

It is almost too aggressively carbonated, but has a nice, quaffable lightness to it and a pleasantly dry aftertaste stays on the palate.

A solid choice for a more modest brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2009 01:13:02 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Grabbed a bottle of this while in Buffalo recently.

This beer pours a slightly hazy medium auburn hue, with a bunch of creamy, puffy, off-white head, which leaves monstrous, thick lace around the glass as it recedes. It smells strongly of green grapefruit hops, and mild caramel malt. The taste is much more tame - mild grapefruit and orange citrus hops, biscuity caramel malt, and some general fruitiness. The carbonation is on the low side, the body a bit light and thin, and it finishes dry, with a muted hoppiness.

I guess I've come to expect a thwack over the head from Stone's brews. This particular beer has the appearance and aroma of their big hitters, but mellows out considerably in the follow through, which would make this their de facto session ale. And as far as lower-alcohol, relatively milder session ales go, this is stellar. It does indeed defy the law of (specific) gravity...

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 01:19:04 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz bottle shared with Phatz.

A: The ale has a true-to-style amber red color with a decent head that comes close to 1 finger in size.

S: The aroma is grainy caramel and biscuit malts that are highlighted by a citrusy hop aroma. Unlike all other Stone brews that I've had, the malts are the shining point here.

T: The amber ale has a strong malt presence. The flavors are caramel and biscuit malts, strong but not to the point of sweetness. The malts are chewy and provide the significant component in the taste. The malts do pop up intermittently, having a grapefruity, citrus element that nicely compliments the strong malts.

M: The mouthfeel is more malty than hoppy, a first for Stone ales that I've had. I like that the hops take a back seat, they pop up when needed and are a nice secondary element.

D: The closest that I've seen to a session ale from Stone. The malts are strong and well-represented, taking control of the ale from start to finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2007 01:10:10 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Farmhouse

Appears amber red in my pint glass with a 1 inch head and lacing. The aroma and flavor are both predominately hoppy with citrus juice, a bit of pine, and a slight earthy undertone. The malt barely comes out, but I get a subtle light roast and bread crust flavor. The hops feel fairly crisp while, there's still a sweet malt component to balance it out. I find the body here to be a bit thick for the strength of this beer.

This reminds me a bit of American bitters, like Surly's Bitter Brewer, but this lacks subtle complexity. Instead, and this isn't a bad thing, it provides an impressive, hoppy punch for a relatively low-alcohol beer that can stand up to most pale ales.

UPDATE: Bottle - 6/28/11
Wow, I forgot how interesting this beer is. There are some really odd, but pleasant herbal garden hops notes with the citrus that remind me of Surly's Bitter Brewer (again). Of course, the malt is a significantly darker here, adding a light roasty finish in with the juicy hops. Heck of a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2008 04:54:43 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep ruby brown colored body with a nice two finger deep cream fluffy head leaves a web of evenly strung lacing, can't beat the appearance here. Aroma: Awesome piney hop character with sweet caramel and fruity ale like characteristics, nice mild abv for a Stone brew but the aromatics come together for this one. Taste: Wonderful American style pale ale with Stone signature bitterness but more of a session Arrogant Bastard ale. Very creamy tone applied to the bouquet of hoppiness that this beer has malts are nice toasted to perfection with hints of caramel and fruit good combonation for this beer. Stone doesn't disappoint and this milder beer that they produce is no exception still extremely flavorful wish it was more available to me. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied packs a slippery oily hop resin tone that glides right down the palate. Drinkability: Wow, nice beer not the most balanced of pale ales but for Stone this is a great beer that I can get down with because it's not shy on flavor or aromatics good stuff. I owe one to beergeek279 and cupbeerman for this sample.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2004 20:57:22 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear amber brown with a thick creme head. Nose is wood, sawdust, and citrus. Flavor is a tight citrus with wood. Thick malty tone, but bringing muted hop character. Interestingly subdued. Feel is thick enough on liquid. Carbonation is a bit boisterous. A nice ale. A bit tight, like mentioned before, but still worthy of going for.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2009 07:27:28 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark amber with a light tan head. The head looks like it will never go away. It leaves thick laces. It smells like citrus, and maybe flowers. It smelled hoppy., but not too over the top. It tastes slightly malty. It has a spicy floral taste. It is lightly carbonated. It is smooth. The taste lingers im my mouth. This beer can go all night long. Chewy, It is very low in alcohol content, so you could drink quite a few of them but the ABV tasted more than it was, perhaps because it was so full bodied. It is a little too hoppy for my. Not an amber fan but this was pretty dam good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2008 04:21:54 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Modest, but lasting head; leaves a ring after each sip. Color is orange-amber with a light haze.

Good fresh hop bitterness to the nose.

Stark hop bitterness but it is not overwhelming. Thin body with a high level of carbonation--it feels like a seltzer. Smooth crystal malt flavor on the initial sip. Quite dry.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 21:43:44 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice deep clear amber color, nice carbonation, small tan head, and some lacing afterwards. Scents of hops, malts, caramel, and citrus. Nice taste for an amber ale, very exact to the style, sweet and slight hop taste, nice little bitter bite at the end. Medium body. Very drinkable at the ABV, would make a nice session brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 01:18:27 | More by Wasatch