Zombie Dust - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

GonzoHomebrewer

Massachusetts

4.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Finally made a pilgrimage to Three Floyds brewpub, did not disappoint at all, especially with Zombie Dust on cask! Though I must say, it was served a little chillier than I expect my cask...

A- Hazy cloudy golden color with a tiny frothy head around the brim. I assume the haze is due to the cask conditioning because none of my bottles were quite as hazy

S- absolutely freaking amazing! cornucopia of wonderful citrus fruit, lots of mango, tangerine, slight grapefruit on the back end. everything you want and more

T- just more of the same, an explosion of bright citrus flavors. citra is the showcase here and I'm overbidding.

m- the cask makes this out to be like a mango creamsicle...heaven

D- Sorry Edward, this just squeaks by you

Serving type: cask

02-16-2013 04:31:04 | More by GonzoHomebrewer

elNopalero

Texas

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Oh, I seriously love Zombie Dust. It became my new favorite addiction in the short window of time where I was able to enjoy it.

I had it on tap, cask and in the bottle.

I was able to do a side-by-side tap vs. cask comparison. Below are my findings of this highly scientific research:

Zombie dust on bottle

While I couldn’t get a growler of Zombie Dust to go I did score a sixer of this wonderful elixir.
It pours with a golden amber color and great foam. There’s a big bouquet on it of tropical fruit, pineapple and a lemony citrusy hop. The flavor is hoppy without being overpoweringly bitter with a crisp orange-lemony and pineapple floral notes coming across. Lightly bodied, this is all about the flavorful and aromatic hops. Loved it.

Zombie Dust on tap and in cask: a side-by-side comparison.

Tap: This has tight foam atop a clear golden tan color brew. The aroma is intensely hoppy and crisp with an amazing tropical citrusy hop aroma and a light note of toasted straw on the finish. There’s an upfront bitterness with some resin on it. Floral and citrusy with a hint of caramel sweetness and a dry finish.

Cask: It pours an amber-golden color with gloppy, sloppy bubbly foam. The aroma and flavor are both smooth, mellow, even. Warms well with citrusy notes prevalent with a great rounded smoothness. There’s an orange citrusy aroma, more mellow than tap but equally enjoyable. The flavor is likewise rounded and softened, with a smooth resiny/orange/orange peel and marmalade character to it.

Whether on tap or from the cask it is dangerously good and lives up to everything I’ve heard.

Serving type: cask

01-22-2013 08:12:37 | More by elNopalero

jeonseh

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At FFF on cast. Imperial pint $5

A - Hazy golden orange color color with a big thick white head. A bit hazier than regular zombie dust. Lots of lacing throughout

S - Loads of citra hops. Orange, lemon, slight grassy hop freshness. Strong great nose

T - Lemon, orange, slight grassy hops. Balanced with a light caramel sweetness. Light grapefruit lingers on the tongue with a slight biscuit finish

MF - Medium light body with a slight stickiness. Light hop resin remains on the tongue. Makes it nice and easy to drink. Bit lighter than normal

O - Great beer and ever greater on cask. Easy drinking. Definitely grab a couple of glasses if they have it especially for only $5 for an imperial pint. The nose on this is even better than normal and as per usual, it's flavor packed

Serving type: cask

12-23-2012 14:34:01 | More by jeonseh

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap on 2012-06-19 in Warsaw, IN at The Downtown beer bar. Also had this on-cask on 2013-04-07 at the brew pub in Munster, IN (it was equally good, if not a little better on-cask)

A - Fairly clear, golden-orange with a 2-finger white head into a nonic glass, which fades pretty quickly and leaves mild lacing.

S - Big amounts of mango and papaya, some pineapple and orange flesh, pine, hop bud oils. More aroma than when I last had it in the bottle.

T - Mango, papaya and orange flesh. Nice amount of pine then some orange zest bitterness. The sweetness of the malt really compliments the fruit flavors and briefly gives a creamsicle impression. Finishes dry and nicely bitter but with a clinging tropical and citrus residue.

M - Creamy with medium body and carbonation. It's thicker than I expected, which seems to compliment the idea of biting into fresh fruit. Somewhat oily but not prickly. There's certainly enough carbnoation to scrub the tongue; leaving you ready for the next taste.

O - Just a fabulous APA although truth-be-told, it is more IPA than APA. Great, great stuff. Unfortunately for me, when I went to order my second pint with dinner, the waiter told me I'd my first glass killed their keg. A well; at least I got to taste it fresh on-tap less than 2-hours from the brewery.

Serving type: cask

06-24-2012 18:21:07 | More by Tucquan

DNICE555

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Three Floyd's. Smell is strong and crisp. Glorious hops. This is one of my favorite beers. So glad I got to have it on cask. Everything is so strong and pronounced. I can't think of one thing I'd change about this beer. I wish FFF distributed to CT. This might be my favorite beer. No carb room temp... Hell yeah! Adds so much to this beer.

Serving type: cask

06-09-2012 01:53:16 | More by DNICE555

hansgruber

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cask at FFF

Nice head and decent lacing.

Dank, tropical fruit aroma.

Full of musky, tropical fruit hoppy goodness. Bitterness is very firm and seems more than regular draft. 

Thinner mouthfeel than draft version.

Very good but I'll take the draft over cask.

Serving type: cask

04-22-2012 04:15:58 | More by hansgruber

Kbogac

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Received in a pint glass. Clear orange amber with a 1/2 inch on foam. No visible carbonation. It this is a cask pour.

Smell is nice grapefruit and hops.

Taste is nice balanced hops up front. A little sweetness then malt with a bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is not overly light, nice. Cask pour has minimal carbonation.

Overall an excellent beer. Hops are very aromatic but not overwhelming in the taste. Very well balanced and easy to drink.

Serving type: cask

03-09-2012 20:26:43 | More by Kbogac

GBallHead

Indiana

4.68/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Pours a hazy orange with a decent head and sticky white foamy lacing all around the glass for most of the beer.

S: Aromas of grapefruit and pine, little bit caramel scent.

T: Kind of bitter with a citrus profile. Very pleasant aroma. At 6.4% its teetering on the edge of IPA, but whatever, just a classification anyway. Very well rounded with bitterness, aroma, hops, and caramel flavors.

M: Highly carbonated and stings the tongue with a medium body for an APA. Absolutely love it.

O: Overall this is a solid APA, strong and well flavored. After all the commotion this beer has caused in the forums for the past year or so Its definitely good, and I drink it all the time probably because of convenience but still it is one of my favorites.

Serving type: cask

11-14-2011 15:06:17 | More by GBallHead

madpentzer

California

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this on cask at Clark Street Alehouse in my first ever trip to Chicago.

A: Golden yellow with about two to three fingers of head.

S: Lots of citrus, grapefruit, and a little pine in the background. Wonderful aroma.

T: The citra hops really shine in this beer. Strong citrus and grapefruit flavors, followed by some grassy pine notes.

M: Medium mouthfeel, almost creamy. Still went down exceptionally well.

O: This was my first try of a FFF offering and I am thouroughly impressed. I think I just found my favorite APA. A must try beer.

Serving type: cask

11-11-2011 20:11:10 | More by madpentzer

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Gravity pour out of a fresh cask at Fountainhead in a pint glass.

Appearance: A beautiful cask pour; a lightly hazy, mostly clear golden tangerine color with a rocky off-white rocky froth casually resting on top, an obvious reminder of the serving type.

Smell: The aroma is a little bit muted compared to the bottle or tap versions, but it is still full of hoppy goodness. The pale malts give a soft sweet and bready back, with aromatic mango, pineapple, and grapefruit hops shining through.

Taste: Somehow, the flavor is even better than the regular tap version. Softly sweet bread and light grains cannot contain a sweet, juicy hop explosion that builds, peaks, and finishes without a single wasted IBU. The mango, pineapple, and papaya flavors work well with the sweetness, with a flash of tart and bitter grapefruit kick near the end. The most amazing thing is just how smooth this flavor is.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation is obviously on the very light side, there is just enough to excite the taste buds. A hop bitterness leaves a bit of hop residue behind my lips, and the overall sensation is creamy and smooth.

Overall: As a hophead, I love any version of this beer. It is even better on cask, and I am slowly realizing I might be a cask IPA fanatic.

Serving type: cask

11-08-2011 18:05:20 | More by KickInTheChalice

FATKIDREVOLUTION

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Discovered at Chicago's Night of the living ales at Goose Island.

Pours a hazy orange with little head.

Smells like a 3 Floyds: Super Hoppy and spicey.

The taste is dry sweet citrus. Light bitterness on the front.

Was here and gone before the Chi even had a chance and the Burbs out here had no chance !
This is from the serving type: bottle

Serving type: cask

10-13-2011 21:47:01 | More by FATKIDREVOLUTION

HopHead84

California

4.4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4/15/2011

On cask at Pizza Port Real Ale 2011.

A: Translucent light orange with a large and impressive creamy white head which shows remarkable retention. Nice color.

S: Light tangerine with some grassy and herbal notes. I get some peach and orange. Expressive citrus. No malt influence. Very nice.

T: Malt is slightly grainy but not real influential. Low bitterness with a lot of hop flavor: tangerine, orange, and a little grapefruit. All flesh, no rind. Exceptional flavor.

M: Upper light in body with nice upper low cask carbonation. Smooth, dry, and sticky mouthfeel.

Overall: Outstanding stuff. So damn drinkable. I had 3 pours of this.

Serving type: cask

05-05-2011 05:16:57 | More by HopHead84

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a shaker pint glass at The Firkin.

Missed this one before, but now I get to try it on cask. Second chances rock. It pours a clear, bright, lemony straw topped by a finger of cream-white froth and populated by some minor floaties. Were it not for that last bit, this would probably look damn near perfect. The nose comprises orange zest, grapefruit, lemon zest, apricot, very light leek, and mild caramel. The taste holds notes of orange zest, orange rind, lemon peel, grapefruit (both red and white), light pine, mandarin orange, and some even milder caramel than before. The body is a rather light medium, with a very light carbonation and a rich, smooth feel. Overall, a very nice APA. I probably didn't think as highly of it as many, but it is a damn fine beer, let me tell you.

Serving type: cask

04-24-2011 23:25:08 | More by TMoney2591

betsona

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on cask at FFF brewpub. Served in an imperial pint at roughly room temperature.

A- Is slightly hazy orangish gold (though the brewpub is so dark it was hard to determine). Three finger frothy off-white head that typifies a cask pull. Head dissipates into a thin film. Plenty of lacing on the glass.

S- Subdued due to the cask pull (had the draft after), still lots of hop smell. Citrus overtones with orange peel and grapefruit. Not much of a malt tone.

T- Smooth. An explosion of citrus notes on the tip of the palate followed caramel backbone that leaves the palate wanting more.

M- Light to medium body with correct amount of carbonation for cask, but not necessarily the style. Did not linger in the mouth.

D- I liked both the draft and cask, but in the end preferred the subdued quality of the cask more. I enjoyed this beer when it was called Cenotaph and continue to enjoy it as Zombie Dust. Would gladly buy in any format that is produced and sold.

Serving type: cask

03-11-2011 16:26:02 | More by betsona

TheCuriograph

New York

4.71/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: It pours a fine deep gold with a nice medium clarity. Healthy fizzy head.

S: Citric hop notes leap out of the glass. The bouquet is uncluttered earthiness: forest greenery, lemon and mango, with the musty-sweet malt beneath.

T: Great balance between the caramel, honey-biscuit malt and the sharper hop notes on the front. Not fruity, just wonderfully bittersweet.

M: Light and drinkable. Not the slightest bit overbearing

O: This is a compulsively drinkable ale. Really nice to experience a balanced brew with a subtle but still robust flavor profile. Wish I could enjoy this with every meal; already plotting how to get more. Thanks to Matt for the bottle.

Full review at: http://thecuriograph.com/blog/2013/5/20/imbibliography-three-floyds-zombie-dust

***

Politics, Art, Beer. A Compendium of Worldly Facts
The Curiograph
www.thecuriograph.com
Twitter: @TheCuriograph

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:07:03 | More by TheCuriograph

TrinidadJ

Trinidad & Tobago

4.5/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

the main thing in this beer is that how the hops shine.. the hoppynes in the beer proved to be true.. in the end.. though hops was fading but they came.. they came n proved that if u love hops from all your heart u wud actually get them.. kinda connects with me.. with my story..

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 19:01:37 | More by TrinidadJ

ktblue22

Vermont

4.8/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Wow, this beer definitely lives up to its hype!!

Thank you Omensetter for the quick sending, as well as the freshness promised!!

Appearance - an almost aggressively robust 2 inch head on the pour! Straw in color with a slight haze.

Smell - A lot going on in the nose - I'm getting tropical fruit and almost a peanuty-ness? Very interesting

Taste - doesn't disappoint...the nuttyness comes through again although its framed with clear and crisp citrus

Mouthfeel - really well balanced, well carbonated and goes down real well

Overalll- really really impressed with this beer. Wish I could drink it all the time!!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 07:18:12 | More by ktblue22

Dools9

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into a pint glass with no date, thanks much to Arsenal0328 for the Dust!

A: Golden amber orange, big three finger slighlty off white head that retains to a skim, excellent lacing left on the glass.

S: Big hop smell with lots of oranges, lemons, candied citrus and a little bit of pine. Decent caramel malt sweetness in there as well. Really good smelling brew.

T: Right upfront it hits you with a firm, dry hop bitterness with oranges, lemons and grapefruit peel, also some citrus as well. Malt does a decent job at keeping it balanced but the hops win in the end, still very drinkable all things considered.

M: Lighter end of medium, good crispness, very easily drinkable.

O: Damn I wish we got FFF here in MA, this is just an awesome Pale Ale, love the single citra hop, really showcases well with this brew ans overall its very tasty. The only thing I'm gunna knock it for is not having a bottle date.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 20:21:08 | More by Dools9

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.29/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I received a six pack from redsand22, thanks again, along with a bottle of Permanent Funeral. Between three of us, we polished off the sixer in a night, yet another good offering in a long line of pale ales that I've had recently.

ZD is an interesting beer and deceptively strong for its ABV. Normally, with a strong nose and citra hop profile like this, I'd see this kind of beer landing right between seven and eight percent by volume; though it's close, ZD has a little less than that, and ever fewer than expected IBUs. It drinks like a big malty IPA, like Sucks or Undercover Investigation Shut-Down, and honestly I found it difficult to discriminate between it and other west coast IPAs. This isn't to say that it's not delicious, of course, but it seems to me that the popular pale ales all fall on the bitter end of the malt spectrum. They're still sweet in their own right, but nothing like Hopslam, Union Jack, Sculpin, or Head Hunter, all of which I prefer to ZD. Of course, getting down and dirty with cross-style comparison is a no-no on Beer Advocate, I'm comparing them by way of taste. Like I said, I don't taste a huge difference between ZD and Lags IPAs and DIPAs, even though they're technically different styles.

Would I get ZD again? Of course. It's delicious, affordable, and brewed year-round, even if it's difficult to get off site. A fresh bottle of it would blow a stale bottle of any of the above listed beers out of the water, but that's not to say that it's better. The margin of difference between these top tier IPAs, DIPAs, and PAs is so slim that it's negligible.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 16:11:59 | More by JamesShoemaker

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

4.53/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had Zombie Dust many times, but never reviewed because it doesn't need any more praise, but....

A - Awesome hazy orangish gold. Awesome puffy light head that stays around and punches lacing into the pint glass.

S - Lemon pith, orange juice, citrus everywhere. Very light malty toast notes

T - Not very balanced, but awesome nonetheless! It definitely showcases the Citra hops well. Barely toasted bread, orange pith, pomelo, aspirin big time, almost a sort of implied saltiness.

M - Nice and light. Perfect timing that I got this at the start of summer in TN

I love this beer so much that even though I can tell the certain batch I am drinking now is not the freshest, it still does the trick!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 06:11:22 | More by hopoilcrazy

ubenumber2

Arkansas

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

Poured from bottle into pint glass , almost an orange color with a one finger head and nice lacing

The nose is sweet and malty with hints of citrus , pine and earthy tones

Super mouthfeel on this beer with just the right amount of carbonation , goes down so smooth

The taste is super hop forward , the malt kind of comes through in the middle the the malt and the bitterness comes through at the end.

This is just wonderful , the flavors are all so complex but come together so nicely and make for one hell of a brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 14:45:39 | More by ubenumber2

UncleBart91

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

No other APA like it out there . Ordered on draft at Sonka's pub in Terre Haute, IN. I heard from a few different sources though, that this beer has been completely sold out in TH and the brewery ran out of ZB ingredients for the year. I guess I'll have to wait til next year :( FFF does it again with a top quality beer. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2013 21:03:10 | More by UncleBart91

tvl89

Texas

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Holy s**t! First of all I would like to thank beergod1 for the trade! Your package will arrive soon buddy!

This beer is awesome, and I don't think there are words to describe how awesome this beer is! Please drive ir get a partner who can send you this beer of gods to you! It's a must try! Everything about zombie dust is perfect! I am planning on moving to Munster, Indiana after this experience!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 19:49:19 | More by tvl89

nesarebad

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, no freshness date. Bottle courtesy of bjohnston, thanks Brian!

A - Pours a cloudy dark amber, fluffy thick three finger head. Sticky lacing lingers throughout as I drink the beer.

S - Lots of tropical and citrus fruits, very strong nose. No apparent malts in the nose, definitely very unique for the style and trending towards IPA.

T - Oh wow, am I drinking fruit or am I drinking fruit. A lot of orange peel, mango, kiwi, and even orange juice itself. Definitely does not drink like a pale ale, where the typical biscuity malt backbone would be expected. To a fault, this throws it to the side of being unbalanced.

M - Heavier than a typical APA, but had no issues with drinking multiple in a night. Not too sticky or heavy on the tongue.

Overall, I would have to say this is the best APA I have ever had, but not to say that it is traditional in any sense. A wonderful explosion of juiciness I would love to have again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 18:38:11 | More by nesarebad

screamking

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance-pours a dark amber with a thick khaki head. Some nice lacing about. 4.25

Aroma- lots of grapefruit and orange peel. There's also a lot of tropical citrus in there to. For a pale ale the citrus is very heavy. 4.25

Taste-grapefruit is killing it in this one. Some apricot and a little mango/pineapple tropical touch in there to. Fresh ground pepper at the end of the tounge is good as well. For a pale ale it's tops. 4.75

Feel-this has a very smooth even feel. I could see drinking this all day long. Coats mouth completely and leves it want more. 4.25

Overall-this is a great beer. I purchased this with some other Three Floyd's beers that must have been very old. This is the only that lived up to the hype. It's solid thru and thru if I could get more of it I would. The problem is I can't and could find stuff regular that comes close to this. Taking that out of the picture and rating this by itself I say it is a epic pale ale that tastes like a great IPA. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 05:05:01 | More by screamking