Beer Review: Highland Park – Baseball Lager
Brewery: Highland Park Brewery (Los Angeles, CA)
Style: American Lager | ABV: 5.0%
Highland Park’s Baseball Lager is a textbook example of a “crushable” sports beer. While many craft breweries try to reinvent the wheel with complex adjuncts, Highland Park leans into simplicity, creating a clean, easy-drinking lager designed for long afternoons at the stadium or backyard barbecues.
The Breakdown
Appearance: This beer pours a crystal-clear, bright straw gold. It maintains a modest, airy white head that dissipates quickly, consistent with the style’s focus on refreshment.
Aroma: The nose is understated but inviting. You get notes of fresh white bread and sweet grain, balanced by a faint hint of citrus peel and a touch of herbal hops.
Palate: On the tongue, it is remarkably light-bodied and crisp. There is a gentle cereal malt sweetness upfront that never becomes heavy. A very mild tartness and a whisper of lemon zest provide just enough character to keep it interesting.
Finish: Short, dry, and exceptionally clean. It leaves the palate refreshed with a slight mineral quality and a lingering note of sweet tea, making it incredibly easy to go back for another sip.
Baseball Lager does exactly what it sets out to do: provide maximum refreshment without any distractions. It is the ultimate utility player in Highland Park’s lineup. While it lacks the hop intensity of their famous West Coast Pilsners, its pure drinkability makes it a staple for any Los Angeles summer.
Best Enjoyed: Ice-cold, straight from the can, paired with a hot dog and a sunny day.