My First Time: Three Floyds’ Zombie Dust

I’ve been dreaming of this moment since the first time I read that 3 Floyds Zombie Dust was THE beer to drink from an Indiana brewer. The opportunity to do so continued to elude me, to the point that I had given up hope of ever finding the Unicorn of Indiana beers. Sure, liquor stores would get it in stock from time to time and various bars would have it on tap, but the timing or location never fit. My luck finally changed on November 14, 2015 when I strolled in the Colts Grille and casually asked what 3 Floyds they had on tap.

We encounter many “firsts” in our lives, which we buildup and set unattainable expectations for. This causes us to feel one of two ways after the experience: satisfied or heartbroken. The buildup I had for Zombie Dust was up there with my first kiss and even my first trip to Disney World. My first kiss wasn’t as good as Drew Barrymore’s and my first trip to Disney World wasn’t as a child, so I was worried my first Zombie Dust wouldn’t live up to the hype presented.

Zombie Dust currently has a BeerAdvocate rating of 100, “World Class”, as well as a 4.53 out of 5 star rating – ranked 21st in the Top 250. Could this beer be that good? Could that many people be wrong? I was about to find out.

I can still remember the moment the bartender uttered the words “Zombie Dust” when answering my question. My body went into momentary shock, unable to comprehend what I had just heard. Did she just tell me they had Zombie Dust on tap? Was this real life? I stumbled through my response, barely able to hold back my excitement. When the glass arrived I stopped to take in the momentous moment; I was finally going to drink Zombie Dust.

My fantasy was becoming a reality as I took my first sip. The Citra Hops gave off tropical flavors, the medium body gave it a perfect balance, and at 60 IBU it had a borderline IPA taste. With each passing sip I began to formulate whether Zombie Dust was truly as good as advertised or just another American Pale Ale.

After my second glass of Zombie Dust it was clear how I felt; Zombie Dust was the best beer in Indiana. The taste never became unsatisfying, the body didn’t fill you up, and each sip left you wanting more. All of the ratings and reviews had told me what to expect from Zombie Dust and it met every expectation…and then some.