Episode Notes

Episode 65: Freethought Brewing’s Levitate Sour Ale

It’s the Two Minute Beer Review!

I’m Andrew Burkum and it’s that time again where we take on that massive craft brew aisle to find the hidden treasures waiting for us there.

Before we get started this week I want to let you know what’s been going on with the show. As you know, a few weeks ago my car was broken into and all of our recording equipment was stolen. For a while I thought this might mean the end of the show. But we had two listeners come to our rescue! Thanks to the generosity of Debbie Bennett of Central Valley Youth Legal Services, the incomparable Zane of Zane-It in Merced and our very own superfan Sandy Hay, we were able to replace all of the lost equipment and get this show and all of the others from the Phoenix Podcast Network back on the air! Going forward, we will be considering these businesses and individuals official sponsors of the show. But I wanted to take a moment this week to say a personal and very heartfelt thank you to them on behalf of myself and all of you. Thanks to them, our quest continues!

And now, on to the beer!

This week we’re taking a look at Levitate from Freethought Brewing in Brooklyn, NY. Will this one get us off the ground? Let’s find out!

This beer pours a perfect golden yellow, trending slightly toward orange that makes me think of pineapple juice. That’s probably appropriate, as the label tells me that it’s brewed with pineapple, turmeric, lemongrass and makrut lime leaf. I’ll admit I had to look the last one up. It’s the same kind of lime leaf you’ll find in many Thai dishes, which is good for me! Smelling the beer, the lemongrass element is very prominent along with some pineapple and a little hint of an almost grapefruity scent. There’s also something spicy and just a little earthy way back in there. The scent of the beer alone is incredibly complex.

But what about the taste? As advertised, the beer is powerfully sour, without a hint of sweetness to it. The lemongrass is as powerful here in the sip as it was in the scent. At the end of the swallow there’s a wonderful round curry spice left over. The flavor is every bit as complex and powerful as the smell.

I really like this beer. It’s big and bold and full of new ideas. It’s definitely a slow drinker because of the incredible tartness. And at a 5% Alcohol by Volume if you like it it’s going to be easy to down more than one. But fast or slow, one or a six pack, this is as fascinating a brew as you’re going to find out there. It’s a Two Minute Beer Review recommendation—get out there and see if you can find it!

That’s all for today, but I hope you’ll join me next week as we take a look at Por Que No Mexican Style Amber Lager from Barrel Brothers Brewing Company in Windsor, California. Why? I mean, why not!

Don’t forget to let us know what you’re drinking and what you’re thinking about the show. You can find us on Facebook or tweet us @2minutebeer, using the number two.

The Two Minute Beer Review is a part of the Phoenix Podcast Network. Support the Network and the Phoenix Creative Collective on our Patreon—look for the link in the show notes!

Thanks again to our new sponsors and we’ll see you next week as we continue on our quest to taste all the beer!

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Music: River Meditation by Jason Shaw used under Creative Commons License

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