Lawson's Finest Liquids
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Craft brewery |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Sean Lawson, Karen Lawson |
| Headquarters | Waitsfield , United States |
Area served | Northeastern United States, North Carolina |
Key people | Adeline Druart (CEO, 2024–present) |
| Products | Beer (Sunshine IPA series, Sip of Sunshine, Little Sip IPA) |
| Website | www |
Lawson's Finest Liquids is a craft brewery located in Waitsfield, Vermont, established in 2008 by Sean and Karen Lawson. The brewery is widely recognized for its "Sunshine" IPA lineup, especially the flagship Sip of Sunshine, which is produced under an alternating proprietorship arrangement at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, Connecticut. In 2018, the company inaugurated a destination brewery featuring a taproom and retail area in Waitsfield. Lawson's Finest Liquids has also received accolades at prestigious events such as the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival.
History
Founded in 2008 as a small one-barrel nanobrewery adjacent to the founders' residence in Warren, Vermont, Lawson's Finest Liquids gradually expanded its presence throughout the Mad River Valley. To accommodate growing demand outside Vermont, beginning in 2014, production of Sip of Sunshine along with other brews commenced at Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut through an alternating proprietorship agreement.
The brewery's taproom and retail shop in Waitsfield opened its doors in October 2018. In 2024, Adeline Druart, previously president of Vermont Creamery, was named CEO to guide the company through its forthcoming expansion phase.
Operations
Operating from its Waitsfield location, Lawson's Finest maintains a brewhouse with a 34-barrel capacity. While many year-round and seasonal beers are crafted onsite in Vermont, the Sip of Sunshine and Super Session series are brewed under contract at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, Connecticut, utilizing Lawson’s proprietary recipes and ingredients.
By 2021, the brewery’s distribution network covered nine states across the Northeastern U.S.: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The company entered its first market beyond this region by expanding into North Carolina in August 2024.
In 2023, Lawson's Finest achieved B Corp certification and completed a transition to renewable energy sources, including installing what was then Vermont’s largest solar canopy.
Beers
The brewery is best known for its Sunshine IPA series. Launched in 2014, Sip of Sunshine serves as the brand’s flagship beer and is brewed at Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut for wide distribution. In 2020, Lawson’s Finest introduced Little Sip IPA as a permanent addition to their lineup.
Awards and recognition
Lawson's Finest has been honored with several medals at top-tier U.S. beer competitions. Its Maple Tripple Ale earned bronze (2010) and silver (2012) medals at the World Beer Cup and took silver at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival. In 2025, Fayston Maple Imperial Stout received a silver medal in the British-Style Imperial Stout category at the World Beer Cup. Additionally, Brewbound recognized Lawson's Finest Liquids as its "Craft Brewery of the Year" for 2023.