Beer Review: Highland Park – Timbo (The Original)
Brewery: Highland Park Brewery (Los Angeles, CA)
Style: West Coast Pilsner | ABV: 5.8%
Highland Park’s Timbo is widely considered the “Original” and the definitive benchmark for the West Coast Pilsner style. While many breweries have since followed suit, Timbo remains a masterclass in precision, offering the crisp drinkability of a lager with the assertive, aromatic hop profile of a modern IPA.
The Breakdown
Appearance: It pours a brilliant, crystal-clear straw gold. The carbonation is lively, supporting a frothy, bone-white head that leaves delicate lacing down the glass as you drink.
Aroma: The nose is an immediate explosion of dank tropical fruit. You get hit with dominant notes of bright blueberry and mango, followed by grapefruit zest and a subtle hint of pine resin.
Palate: The mouthfeel is the star here—exceptionally light and snappy. Initial flavors of citrus peel and passionfruit transition quickly into a dry, crackery malt base. There is zero “fluff” or heavy sweetness to get in the way of the hops.
Finish: True to its West Coast roots, it finishes with a firm, clean bitterness. It’s a palate-cleansing snap that leaves behind a lingering note of lime pith and floral hops, practically begging you to take another sip.
Timbo is a “brewer’s beer” through and through. It strips away the haze and the heavy malt of typical IPAs, letting the raw quality of Citra and Mosaic hops shine in their purest form. If you want to understand why West Coast Pilsners have taken the craft beer world by storm, this is the first can you should crack open.
Pairs well with: Street tacos, hot afternoons, and high expectations.