Three Floyds is Coming to MA

As others have mentioned, even though it isn't a haze bomb, the overall lack of bitterness when fresh really made it super drinkable in the same manner as a NE. Just an overall softer mouthfeel than a typical pale ale. I'm curious to try some if I can find it, as I had it a bunch in Chicago over the years.

 

Got some at Julio's in Westboro, 9/23 and 10/ dates.

 

Mission accomplished. Found them under a pile at Georgios Waltham. They had the whole roster, but there wasn't much left on the Zombie when I left. I think it was around $14.

 

Scooped a 9/23 six pack of ZD today, and as I anticipated, it pretty much tastes like a beer. A really goddamn good one! But not as unique as the drafts I had at Armsby years and years ago. There's just too much hoppy stuff on the market now and I've had too many beers between now and then. It's good as hell, let's not mistake it, but is it unique in many meaningful ways from most other things on the shelves? Probably not. This remains The only three floyds beer I've tried though, and based on this thread I'm happy to scoop a couple other options over the next few weeks, just to try them out.

 

Grabbed a sixer of ZD at One Stop in Haverhill today, 10/7 stamped. Really well made pale but I’m missing the intense citra aroma I remember back from the bottles. Still very tasty and a nice change of pace to have in the fridge.

 

Interesting comparison. I get the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale comparison, but it’s odd considering Zombie Dust is hopped with Citra and Pale Ale is Cascade.

Really, a lack of bitterness? To my palate this was scathingly bitter.

 

Picked some up at Yankee Spirits Swansea yesterday, and it was fresh:

Zombie Dust 10/7
Gumballhead 9/17
Alpha King 10/6

Hate to say it, but it was a big disappointment for me. Zombie Dust is definitely lacking the magic that it’s reputation is built on. And while I admit that I have never been wowed by Gumballhead or Alpha King, they both came across as surprisingly mediocre...

 

Had ZD 4 years ago on tap at Hopleaf in Chi-town (ah, those were the days..having a beer NOT on my couch) and at the time remember it being a bit of a let-down. A lot of amazing hop-bombs have raised the bar since then so I think when I get to try some again it will be best to start the night, not finish. But technically it's not an IPA anyways..

 

Maybe Victory Headwaters would be a better comparison, as I believe that one is hopped with Citra. It's been a few years since I've had that one.

I agree ZD has some strong bitterness on the back end.

 

So, I tried the 10/7 batch last night. I am rarely this definitive about anything that I say about beer as I usually leave a lot of room for palate changes: this is NOT AT ALL what I have had previously when I have had ZD on draft in Chicago/Indiana. I really, really liked it when I had it on draft previously. Born Yesterday is the best comparison I can think of (we can have a separate debate about whether hops create the flavor profile) as it was just so damn approachable. I think what I bought yesterday is a fine enough beer, but it is entirely an west coast pale ale. There is nothing hybrid or mid-western about it. It is even multiple shades darker than it once was, which is as much a giveaway as anything.

 

Just curious why you think so? Is it because the brewer calls it a pale ale? My opinion is that anything hop forward and over 6.0% ABV is an IPA in my book...or at least for modern day standards.

 

While I agree with you, here's what the BJCP says...

Style Comparison:

Typically lighter in color, cleaner in fermentation by-products, and having less caramel flavors than English counterparts. There can be some overlap in color between American pale ale and American amber ale. The American pale ale will generally be cleaner, have a less caramelly malt profile, less body, and often more finishing hops. Less bitterness in the balance and alcohol strength than an American IPA. More balanced and drinkable, and less intensely hop-focused and bitter than session-strength American IPAs (aka Session IPAs).

Vital Statistics:

OG: 1.045 – 1.060
IBUs: 30 – 50
FG: 1.010 – 1.015
SRM: 5 – 10
ABV: 4.5 – 6.2%

 

3F and BA both have it listed as a Pale to start with? IIRC when I had it last it certainly wasn't hoppy enough (by todays standards) to come off as an IPA. Definitely in the UK though!

 

It's an Undead Pale Ale, is that a new style?

 

Update: Wish I could delete or edit my post above, to roll back my quick judgement. This public apology will have to suffice:

Zombie Dust is still a great beer. While I remember there being a slightly better up front hop flavor profile, that back end bitterness is really doing it for me now. Is this the closest beer to The Tap’s legendary Leatherlips that is still available? Great mouthfeel as well.

And Alpha King too...not going to knock anyone’s socks off, but a solidly hopped pale with great feel and bitterness.

Gumballhead continues to not be my thing, but perhaps deserves credit as a precursor to session IPAs.

And now to hunt down some Permanent Funeral...

 

Don’t sleep on Lazersnake.

 

Back when Blue Lobster was a thing, my favorite beer of theirs was a beer called Stalkholm Syndrome, a wheat IPA. Dave, the brewer, said Gumballhead was the inspiration.

I had Gumballhead out in Chicago a bunch of year later (first time) and you could just tell it was old. It was what it was.

But fresh Gumballhead? Mmmm. This is right up my alley. It’s been too long to do the comparison with Stalkholm, but I’m having a nice time with this.

Oh! And six of them for $14?! My my.

 

Mmmm, Stalkholm Syndrome. Hadn’t thought of that one in a while.

 

Stalkholm Syndrome was my fav Blue Lobster beer, too.

And gumballhead might be my favorite of the 3 Floyd's bunch so far, relative to what it's supposed to be.

 

Picked up Zombie Dust (10/7) and Gumballhead (9/17) at Kappy's in Norwell yesterday afternoon. I didn't get much of an impression from the first ZD, not a tremendous amount of flavor up front or bitterness in the back. But I had a second a couple hours later (straight from the can this time, taking a cue from Heady) which I found much better. Really refreshing hoppy alternative to the juice bombs, without being overly bitter. Could definitely put it in regular rotation!

 

agreed! i'm drinking one right now. i was grabbing some sierra celebration and there was one 4 pack of lazersnake left...i had remembered your post, so i grabbed it. thanks!

 

Ohh man, Blue Lobster... I actually drank a Zombie Dust out of my BL willi becher glass tonight. Stalkholm was great, but Red Sky at Night and Excess were their best beers in my opinion. Red Sky was an amped up version of Nugget Nectar. Nugget, Galaxy and Nelson hops... yes please. I will now go stair at my last bottles of Celtic New Year And Broke Ass Hobbie and contemplate when to open them.

 

So, you feel like this ZD is the same as you remember it from 4-5 years ago? I've already beaten that horse to death, but I don't at all think it is the same. They had some Permanent Funeral at Giorgios in Waltham a couple of days ago...

 

This point has been made but if you were drinking what IPAs and pale ales were five years ago, and have been steadily drinking them through the "evolution" (air quotes as I know some will argue IPAs were better before all of the variations on them) of NEIPA, lactose NEIPAs, milkshake IPAs, brut IPAs, etc, it's your palate that has changed dramatically, not the beer.

Remembering that you loved something and physically recalling the taste are NOT the same thing.

 

Totally agree. People that have only been drinking the haze bombs the last 5-6 years will absolutely not be able to handle Zombie Dust or will just not like it.

I always mix things up and still drink the classic stuff like Stone IPA, Loose Cannon etc. so I thought it was great and a nice change of pace.

 

Same here. I LOVE when I can find a nice crisp, juicy IPA or something dank with some bitterness (Lagunitas tends to scratch that itch well) to offset the deluge of NEIPAs.

 

I’m enjoying my first-ever Zombie Dust. They had it at the package store, and although I wasn’t looking for it, I bought it on a whim. I was expecting to be underwhelmed. But my reaction is just the opposite. This is really nice, canned on 10/7. I can see myself drinking plenty of this. My only complaint is that the aroma is a bit too subtle, but that’s OK.

 

I also found the price tag for a sixer to be a little high to be a regular purchase for me.

 

I admit I missed the price on it — I bought a few things and didn’t even think of it. I was in a bit of a rush. Actually the shop where I bought it is a bit pricey, but it’s small, well-curated, and well-run. The staff knows me by name, and they turn over a lot of product so the beer is almost always reasonably fresh.

 

I was thinking I paid 14.99 but bought a decent amount of beer that day and may have paid 12.99, which is more reasonable. I too love the smaller well-curated stores despite the fact you may pay a few more bucks in those situations.

 

14.50-14.99 seems to be the going rate for Zombie Dust. I have a feeling the distributors know its the most regarded one so they put it at a little higher price

 

I just learned that I paid $13.49 for it.

 

I thought the same exact thing.... I really expected a deeper aroma.

 

Just had a 10/7 Zombie Dust myself. Not my first ever. Had a six pack of bottles in '15 or '16 sent to me by a friend.

This is better than I remembered. Really nice beer. But I'll agree on the lacking aroma.

I'll try the rest of their beers occasionally over the next few months. They've earned some more buys.

 

I bought a 6 pack of the 10/7 Zombie Dust last week as well. I was underwhelmed when I tried it maybe 3-4 years ago at a bar in Chicago, it was a bottle and I couldn't see a date on it. Having it again now it was better than I remember, perhaps one of the better beers I've had this year. I could see myself drinking a lot of this beer, especially if I can get it in keg.