Zombie Dust - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

kevanb

Illinois

4.76/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I think the first thing that needs to be said about this beer, is the amazing label, a trademark of Three Floyds, but this one might be my favorite. The beer pours a great hazy honey color, hints of oranges, yellows and gold when held to the light. A nice finger and a half of soapy white head sits atop the beer that has mild retention but leaves really nice sticky webbed and spotted lacing. The nose is incredible, a big blast of citrus, heavy on grapefruit and sweeter tangerines or lemons. Some tropical notes come forward as well, mangos or pineapples that add additional sweetness but also some tartness. There is also a nice grassy, dank floral element from the hops that transitions nicely into the malt notes, that while faint, still come forward with some nice light breadiness. The flavors are great, big citrus elements, some flavors that, like Gumballhead, reminds me of cat pee, but in a oddly good way, with some nice sappy and sticky pine flavors. The breadiness is also apparent, which is a bit stronger than the nose leads on and finishes with a very dry, bitter and tart apple-y flavor that is oh so nice. The body is great, super full for a pale ale, but not overbearing in any way, extremely palatable.

Verdict: Massive triumph from Three Floyds. I don’t think there is a better pale ale in the world, it has all of the flavors and aromas of a strong double IPA while having almost none of the bitterness or alcohol and remains exceptionally drinkable. This is one to stock up on whenever it gets released, which is not often enough.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 04:22:11 | More by kevanb

JasonFromLA

California

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-19-2013 06:41:54 | More by JasonFromLA

koveras225

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-19-2013 05:17:03 | More by koveras225

dsterbed

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-19-2013 02:30:32 | More by dsterbed

madnismo

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -19.2%

06-19-2013 02:24:40 | More by madnismo

Barrel_age_me

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-19-2013 01:02:34 | More by Barrel_age_me

jealmanzar

New York

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-19-2013 00:30:58 | More by jealmanzar

hoosier222002

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-18-2013 23:15:25 | More by hoosier222002

Tyrus

California

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-18-2013 23:07:12 | More by Tyrus

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

06-18-2013 23:02:21 | More by taylor714914

Spaz7

California

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-18-2013 17:42:35 | More by Spaz7

KyleMA

California

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

06-17-2013 23:50:45 | More by KyleMA

JRdaSconnie

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

S: Bottle picked up fresh from the brewpub on Friday. From fridge and poured hard into Founders fat tulip.

A: Brilliant gold. Crystal clear. Effervescent. Thick, mousse-like, white head. Holds solid then drops to thin layer after first sip. Sticky lacing.

S: Catty hops. Pine, orange peel, grapefruit pith, and fresh cut grass. No alcohol and not much for malt.

T: White bready base malt, intense hopping - orange peel, fresh cut grass, with carbonation giving a thick and creamy mouth feel. Some malt sweetness but hop forward for sure. Firm bitter finish with dry mouth. Very clean ferment. Crisp is the best way I can describe it.

O: I'm not a hop head but this is a very fine beer. Bitterness pushes more to an IPA vs APA to me but who cares. Glad to have it fresh too. I had my first Pliny the Elder recently and I didn't see the hype. This is worth it IMHO. crisp.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 22:13:27 | More by JRdaSconnie

Ultra-Plinian

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-17-2013 16:42:09 | More by Ultra-Plinian

TargaFlorio

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-17-2013 16:24:36 | More by TargaFlorio

bonbini26

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-17-2013 10:52:30 | More by bonbini26

beerjardin

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-17-2013 06:11:40 | More by beerjardin

RickS95

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Looks more like an IPA, but who's counting? The pour is a colorful hazy golden shade of orange, like the sun just before you see if the last time each night. The head is that of an IPA, bright white, foamy and meringue like. Good retention, it never fully dissipates. Great lace.

Pine, citrus and flowers. Smells like the Pacific Northwest, with grapefruit and pineapple thrown in.

While the smells are slightly subtle, the taste is just the right degree of each ingredient. The earthy pine and citrus fruits are more aggressive, but never obnoxious. I don't know how you'd improve upon it.

The mouthfeel is also perfection. There's complexity with lots of different things happening from sweet to piney to bitter. It's a bit more bitter than an APA, but slightly less so than an IPA, so it's more of a hybrid, but it hits all the right notes with a smoothness that is only matched by a couple other beers. Medium bodied with a lasting bitterness.

Overall, the only thing I would change is giving it a higher ABV. Aside from that, it's a chart topper that's easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 02:30:36 | More by RickS95

bomberboysk

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-17-2013 01:32:00 | More by bomberboysk

drebrew

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-17-2013 00:46:10 | More by drebrew

bluesbrewsguys

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

First few times I had this beer I couldn't get enough of it., but It was quite hard to find here in Chicago so I believe it made it even more enjoyable since it was like finding that record you were always trying to find in the used bin at the local record store. Then suddenly I started noticing ZD popping up in many more bars on tap over the past few months. It's a really refreshing beer and one of my go to beers to grab a pint of after work. Although I am more partial to their darker creations, Three Floyds has really got something here and this one.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2013 17:24:07 | More by bluesbrewsguys

BenjieK

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-16-2013 16:38:41 | More by BenjieK

nootch23

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-16-2013 04:13:38 | More by nootch23

ValpoExpo

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -24.6%

06-16-2013 03:51:36 | More by ValpoExpo

Noonan425

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-16-2013 00:44:20 | More by Noonan425