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Hand of Josh

Highland Park Brewery
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🌍 United States · West Coast Pilsner · One of 9 West Coast Pilsners in hopIQ

Hand of Josh is a West Coast Pilsner that trades the Mosaic and Citra of Timbo Pils for New Zealand hops, NZ Cascade and Nelson Sauvin. It pours a bright golden yellow with a pungent nose of fresh mango, Riesling grape and finger lime, and the Nelson Sauvin adds a white-wine and gooseberry edge. The pilsner base keeps the body light and the finish crisp and dry at 5.8 percent, leaving the hop fruit in the lead from the first sip to the last.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3

AWARDS

Gold · 2023
Great American Beer Festival
International-Style Pale Ale
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (International-Style Pale Ale)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another West Coast Pilsner.
Hop character
tropical
hoppy
citrusy
floral
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean
Distinctive notes
berry

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Lagers→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hand of Josh

◎ Appearance

Hand of Josh presents a bright, golden-yellow hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation. The head forms white and compact, with good retention and distinct lacing down the glass.

bright golden yellowfine carbonationwhite head with lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pungent, tropical fruit notes—fresh mango and finger lime lead the charge. Nelson Sauvin contributes a distinctive white-wine character and gooseberry undertone, while the Cascade hop adds depth. The Pilsner malt base remains restrained, allowing the New Zealand hop aromatics to dominate.

fresh mango, finger limewhite wine, gooseberryNelson Sauvin forward

◐ Taste

The palate is light and dry, true to the West Coast Pilsner style. Hop fruit carries through from the first sip with mango and citrus notes, while the understated malt backbone provides structure without sweetness. A crisp, refreshing bitterness integrates cleanly throughout.

light, dry palatehop fruit prominentcrisp finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering hop fruit and a mineral snap. The 5.8% ABV ensures no warming alcohol character detracts from the focused, refreshing conclusion.

dry, lingering hop fruitmineral snap
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
77
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Hand of Josh

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass
Recommended for this style

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Hand of Josh

About West Coast Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a West Coast Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar West Coast Pilsner

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, fruity, tropical character as Hand of Josh will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other West Coast Pilsners in hopIQ

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