A Sip Down
Memory Lane!
The History of Lawson’s Finest Liquids!
From the cold, snowy hills of Vermont to beer coolers throughout the east, Lawson’s Finest was founded in 2008 by Sean Lawson, a naturalist and homebrewer with a passion for creating innovative maple beers like multiple award-winning Fayston Maple Imperial Stout and hop-soaked IPAs like the legendary Double Sunshine and our Sugarhouse IPA, the first beer sold under the Lawson’s Finest Liquids name. Grab a cold one and take a sip down memory lane with us!
1990
Sean crafts his first homebrew, a maple wheat ale inspired by maple beers from Catamount Brewing and the Vermont Pub & Brewery.
2000
Karen and Sean meet at Mad River Glen ski area on a Full Moon Snowshoe and dinner. They are married in August of 2001 and have two daughters in 2005 and 2009.
2006
Construction begins on the Warren brewery next to Sean and Karen’s home with friends and family joining in a “barn raising” style weekend. Sean digs the foundation footings by hand and over the next year and half builds what is affectionately dubbed the “Crooked Cabin.”
2008
Lawson’s Finest Liquids is founded in Warren with a 1-barrel brewhouse and officially licensed wholesale distributor. The first local sales begin, including the first keg of Sugarhouse IPA sold to Mad River Glen.
2010
Maple Tripple Ale earns World Beer Cup Bronze Medal.
2011
The Warren brewery expands to a 7-barrel brewhouse, resulting in increased distribution across Vermont.
2011
The first bottled beers are sold at the Montpelier and Waitsfield Farmers Markets; Triple Play IPA is named National IPA Champion by Brewing News.
2012
Maple Tripple Ale wins World Beer Cup Silver Medal.
2014
Begins brewing Sip of Sunshine IPA and Super Session IPA at Two Roads Brewing, expanding distribution in Vermont and Connecticut.
2016
Lawson’s Finest hires its first employee; Super Session #2 IPA is awarded National IPA Champion in the Session IPA division; Maple Tripple Ale wins World Beer Cup Silver Medal again.
2017
Construction begins on Waitsfield brewery, taproom, and retail store; distribution expands to Massachusetts, southern Maine, and New York City metro.
2018
The Waitsfield brewery, taproom, and retail location opens; Sunshine Fund launches; Lawson’s Finest receives Brewbound Rising Star award; named Small Business of the Year by Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation; distribution expands to New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Eastern Pennsylvania, and most of New York.
2020
Co-Owners Karen and Sean Lawson are named Vermont Persons of the Year by the Small Business Association; Taproom adapts to COVID-19 with drive-thru service, outdoor beer garden service, and expanded retail beer sales.
2021
Lawson’s Finest Liquids receives the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business Award and University of Vermont Family Business Award; Little Sip launches in the Northeast.
2022
Beer Connoisseur recognizes us as their 2022 Brewery of the Year; Rum Barrel Aged Fayston Maple Imperial Stout takes home a World Beer Cup silver medal; Our Social Impact Program receives a Platinum Crushie award from the Craft Beer Marketing Awards.
2023
Sean and Karen Lawson hire their first CEO, Adeline Druart, as they continue to “build a company to thrive, not to sell.”
2023
Brewbound names us their Brewery of the Year; achieves B Corp; completes rooftop solar project, allowing us to offset 100% of the energy used in the Waitsfield brewery and taproom; releases first Impact Report.
2024
Releases 2024 Impact Report detailing Social Impact Program (SIP), wins Good Food Award for Mad River Maple; earns Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership (EVAL) Platinum-level certification; introduces SIPbatical benefit providing a month-long, fully paid sabbatical to team members after five years of employment; expands distribution to North Carolina and Virginia.
2025
Wins World Beer Cup Silver for Fayston Maple Imperial Stout; Social Impact Program surpasses $3M in community donations; hosts inaugural SIPosium; team grows to 85 employees.
