Zombie Dust By 3 Floyds Brewing

The West Coast has Pliny The Elder and the East Coast has Heady Topper but does the Midwest have a Pale Ale that is equally loved? While it is not nearly as hard to find,  Zombie Dust is one of the most praised beers with a cult following in the Midwest.

This aggressively hopped Pale Ale was once considered as hard to find as a unicorn but thanks to increased production, you can actually find it from time to time.

Let’s learn more about what makes Zombie Dust a fan favorite.

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Review Of 3 Floyds Brewing Zombie Dust

When I first got into craft beer, it was the thrill of the hunt that kept me going back to bottle shops over and over again. I wanted to find the latest release or something that was unique.

One beer that was continually illusive was 3 Floyds Zombie Dust. By the time I heard a store had it and I drove there, they would be sold out. And in many cases, it was being sold by the bottle for up to $5 – which is a crazy price to pay for a beer that sells for $10 a six pack at the brewery.

But every once is a while, I would get lucky and find a bottle or two.

Luckily, this beer has been easier to find than in the past but it is still not available consistently so most will pick up a six pack every time they spot it.

Zombie Dust has an ABV of 6.2% and IBUs of 50.

Here is how 3 Floyds describes Zombie Dust:

This intensely hopped and gushing undead Pale Ale will be one’s only respite after the zombie apocalypse. Created with our marvelous friends in the comic industry.

Initial Thoughts

When you finally get a beer that has been hyped up by just about everyone you know, it is hard to not be biased. I am often overly complimentary of a beer that I’ve tried hard to find.

Zombie Dust definitely falls into that category. The first time I had it, I would have agreed to never drink any other beer again in exchange for having it the rest of my life.

This is the kinda of Pale Ale that has an intense aroma as soon it is opened. You get lots of earthy, piney notes. This only increases as it is poured.

It has a deep, golden color with a bright white head which is about what you’d expect from a beer in this style.

Tasting Notes

What makes Zombie Dust stand out among others that are similar is it’s ability to balance bitterness, malt, piney and fruity flavors.

This isn’t an easy thing to accomplish but Zombie Dust does it better than most.

As Pale Ales and IPAs are trending to be more fruit and less bitter, this beer doesn’t shy away from being true to who it is. A bitter, bold beer.

It is one of the first beers that I had which truly captured a fruit flavor produced from hops. This is in perfect harmony with the piney hop flavors that most traditional IPAs have focused on.

This all comes with ample amounts of bitterness but it doesn’t get out of control as the malt holds it together. And it ends smooth yet bitter, making you want another sip.

Final Thoughts

One of the biggest arguments that occurs around this beer is about freshness. Many claim that to truly enjoy this beer, you must enjoy it as close to the bottling date as possible.

And while most would agree that freshness is a factor in this style, there are some that take it too far. In the case of Zombie Dust, many will now joke that it is undrinkable unless you drink it the same week or even day it was bottled.

It’s obvious hyperbole but it highlights how some take factors like bottling date a little too serious. But if you’ll notice that many will reference the bottling date when they talk about this beer. So while this beer has become easier to find, many are now searching for the freshest bottles possible.

Learn More About Craft Beer Shelf Life

Conculsion

The East and West Coast often get a lot of attention for their craft beer. But don’t overlook the Midwest. There’s a ton of great breweries that are worth the time.

3 Floyds Zombie Dust is just one example of the great beer coming out of middle America.

And many would argue that Zombie Dust isn’t even their best beer. Alpha King is another year round favorite brewed by 3 Floyds that some consider to be even better than Zombie Dust.

If you’ve had a chance to try Zombie Dust, I’d love to know what you thought of it. Did it live up to the hype? As availability has grown, do you still seek it out?

Are you a fan of Zombie Dust?