Lawson's Finest Liquids
Vermont craft brewery known for its Sunshine IPA family.
Lawson's Finest Liquids, an American craft brewery, calls Waitsfield, Vermont, home. Sean and Karen Lawson founded the company in 2008. The brewery built its reputation on the "Sunshine" family of IPAs, most notably Sip of Sunshine, which is produced through an alternating proprietorship arrangement at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, Connecticut. A destination facility featuring a taproom and retail space opened in Waitsfield in 2018. The brewery has also collected medals from both the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival.
Quick Facts
- Owner
- Sean Lawson and Karen Lawson
- Location City
- Waitsfield
- Location State
- Vermont
- Location Country
- United States
- Opened
- 2018 (Waitsfield brewery and taproom)
- Distribution
- U.S. Northeast
- Key People
- Adeline Druart (CEO)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Lawson's Finest Liquids sold for the first time on St. Patrick's Day in 2008. At the time they were a one-barrel nanobrewery next to the founders' home in Warren, Vermont, before expanding operations throughout the Mad River Valley. In 2014, the company began brewing Sip of Sunshine and other beers at Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut through an alternating proprietorship arrangement to meet demand beyond Vermont. The brewery opened a taproom and retail store in Waitsfield in October 2018. In 2024, the company named Adeline Druart, former president of Vermont Creamery, as chief executive officer to lead its next phase of growth. By 2021 the brewery's distribution covered nine Northeastern states. In August 2024, an expansion into North Carolina marked the company's first move outside the Northeast. In 2023 Lawson's Finest achieved B Corp certification and completed a 100% renewable-energy transition that included installing what was reported as Vermont's largest solar canopy at the time.
Reader's Guide
Lawson's Finest Liquids is best known for its Sunshine family of IPAs. Sip of Sunshine, introduced in 2014, is the brewery's widely distributed flagship beer and is brewed at Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut. In 2020 the brewery launched Little Sip IPA as a year-round beer. The brewery has received recognition and medals at major U.S. beer competitions. Maple Tripple Ale earned a bronze medal in the category of Specialty Beer at the 2010 World Beer Cup and a silver medal in 2012. The beer also won silver in the Specialty Ale category at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival. In 2025, Fayston Maple Imperial Stout won a silver medal in the "British-Style Imperial Stout" category at the World Beer Cup. Brewbound named Lawson's Finest Liquids its 2023 "Craft Brewery of the Year". The brewery's operations include a 34-barrel brewhouse at its Waitsfield site, while Sip of Sunshine and the Super Session series are brewed at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, Connecticut, using Lawson's recipes and ingredients. Other year-round and seasonal beers are produced in Vermont.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lawson's Finest Liquids?
Lawson's Finest Liquids is a craft brewery based in Waitsfield, Vermont, that Sean and Karen Lawson launched in 2008. The team became widely recognized for their "Sunshine" line of IPAs, which put them on the map in the craft beer world.
What is Sip of Sunshine and why is it famous?
Sip of Sunshine, first released in 2014, is the brewery's signature IPA and the beer that made their name. It is brewed under a shared-ownership deal with Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, Connecticut, an unusual arrangement in the craft beer scene.
Where can I try Lawson's Finest Liquids beers?
The brewery opened a dedicated taproom and retail space in Waitsfield, Vermont, in October 2018, making it a popular destination for beer fans. Beyond Vermont, their products are distributed across nine states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania.
How did Lawson's Finest Liquids get started?
Sean and Karen Lawson launched the brewery in 2008 in the small town of Waitsfield, Vermont. They built their identity around the Sunshine IPA family, which gradually grew into their most recognized and sought-after lineup.
Has Lawson's Finest Liquids won any major beer awards?
Yes, the brewery has picked up medals at both the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, two of the most prestigious competitions in the industry. These accolades helped cement their reputation as a quality-focused craft producer in the New England scene.
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