Three Floyds Zombie Dust 19.2oz

Three Floyds Zombie Dust 19.2oz is a single-hop pale ale brewed exclusively with Citra hops, packaged in a 19.2 oz stovepipe can at 6.5% ABV. It holds a perfect 100 score on BeerAdvocate from over 11,500 ratings—one of the highest-rated pale ales in the world—and earned a 100/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Munster, Indiana, USA  |  Style: American Pale Ale (Single-Hop Citra)  |  Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Three Floyds Brewing Company operates out of Munster, Indiana, and has built a cult following among American craft beer enthusiasts since its founding. Zombie Dust was among the first commercially available beers to fully showcase Citra hops as the sole hop variety—Citra had only become available to breweries in 2007, and no one had pushed it to its full potential before this pale ale arrived. The result is a beer that helped define a generation of hop-forward American ales, bridging the gap between bitter West Coast IPAs and the fruit-driven pale ales that followed.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pine tar and grapefruit rind lead the nose, followed by a layer of caramel hard candy sweetness. The Citra hops deliver unmistakable tropical fruit character underneath the resinous top notes.

Taste: The entry is juicy and immediate, with grapefruit and orange peel dominating the front palate. Mid-palate brings a sweet, almost cherry-like fruitiness balanced by firm piney bitterness. A light malt backbone provides structure without competing with the hops.

Finish: Clean and dry, with lingering citrus bitterness that remains refreshing rather than astringent. The pine resin and grapefruit rind fade slowly, leaving a crisp close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Zombie Dust

Zombie Dust drinks best poured into a tulip glass or shaker pint at around 40–45°F to let the Citra hop aromatics fully express. The 19.2 oz stovepipe can is ideal for drinking fresh—this is not a beer to cellar. In cocktails: try a Michelada, where the citrus hop character amplifies the lime and hot sauce base; a Beer Margarita, topping a classic margarita with a pour of Zombie Dust for a bitter-citrus finish; or a Radler, mixing it half-and-half with fresh lemonade to lean into the grapefruit notes on a hot afternoon.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who collects top-rated brews
• Backyard grilling sessions where bold, hoppy flavor matches charred food
• Introducing someone to single-hop pale ales and the flavor range of Citra
• Stocking up on a cult-status beer that rarely stays on shelves

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Zombie Dust taste like? Zombie Dust delivers bold grapefruit, orange peel, and pine bitterness up front, supported by a light malty sweetness and a clean, dry finish. The Citra single-hop profile gives it a distinct fruity quality with an almost sweet cherry undertone.

How does Zombie Dust compare to Three Floyds Alpha King? Alpha King is a bolder American pale ale that uses a blend of hop varieties—Centennial, Cascade, and Warrior—resulting in a more complex, multi-layered bitterness at a similar ABV. Zombie Dust, by contrast, focuses entirely on Citra for a fruitier, more citrus-driven experience that many drinkers find more immediately approachable.

Is Zombie Dust good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—Zombie Dust is widely considered one of the best standalone pale ales available, with enough complexity from its single-hop Citra profile to hold attention from first pour to last sip.

Where is Zombie Dust made? Zombie Dust is brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company in Munster, Indiana, a town in the northwest corner of the state near the Illinois border. The Citra hops used in production are sourced from the Yakima Valley in Washington State.

What foods pair well with Zombie Dust? Spicy tacos al pastor benefit from the beer's citrus sweetness cutting through the chili heat. Grilled burgers with sharp cheddar complement the piney bitterness. Fish and chips pair naturally with the grapefruit and dry finish. A citrus-dressed arugula salad mirrors the hop aromatics, and aged gouda offers a caramel counterpoint to the hops.

What sizes does Zombie Dust come in? Zombie Dust is available in 12 oz six-packs and the 19.2 oz stovepipe single-serve can featured here.

Is Zombie Dust worth the price? Zombie Dust positions as a premium craft pale ale, and its perfect scores on BeerAdvocate and Craft Beer & Brewing place it among the most critically acclaimed beers in its category—strong justification for its price point relative to standard craft six-packs.

Why Zombie Dust?

Zombie Dust was a pioneer: it arrived when Citra hops were still a novelty and proved that a single hop variety could carry an entire beer with authority. A perfect 100 on BeerAdvocate from over 11,500 ratings is not an accolade many pale ales can claim, and a matching 100/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing reinforces its standing. The 19.2 oz format gives drinkers a generous single serving of one of the most sought-after pale ales in American craft brewing. In a market now flooded with Citra-hopped IPAs and pale ales, Zombie Dust remains the benchmark that started the conversation.