Led by Strength of Flagship Sip of Sunshine IPA, Lawson’s Finest Liquids Growth in 2024 Up Almost 20%

In 2024, Vermont’s Lawson’s Finest Liquids celebrated a year brimming with purpose-fueled growth, world-class beers and giving back to the community. Leading with their flagship brew, Sip of Sunshine IPA, and a mission to use their B Corp Certified business as a force for positivity, the brewery let their commitment to goodness shine all year long.

“The support of our fans and the community is at the center of it all, from Lawson’s Finest’s early days as a small brewery with a cult following for its IPAs to becoming a destination for craft beer lovers,” said Lawson's Finest Liquids' CEO Adeline Druart. “We’re eager to continue delivering brewery-fresh, delicious beer, giving back generously to support the vitality of our community and doing our part to protect the environment. These are the values that Lawson’s Finest is built on, and will continue to lead the way in the new year and beyond.”

NOTABLE BREWS

Enjoyment of Lawson’s Finest’s flagship brew Sip of Sunshine (8% ABV), celebrating its 10 year anniversary in 2025, was strengthened across Lawson’s Finest’s distribution footprint, with overall growth of 18% according to scan data YTD through November 2024. Sip of Sunshine IPA and its iconic yellow can reached the #1 4-pack in dollar sales in NIQ Northeast food last year. Notably, for the first time in five years, the brewery expanded distribution, bringing its signature Sunshine brand family to fans across Virginia and North Carolina, including Sip of Sunshine IPA, Little Sip IPA and Hazy Rays Hazy IPA. Little Sip IPA saw double-digit growth in 2024, earning its position as a Top 50 brand in the Northeast Food segment. Whether in established markets or new, the brewery protects the freshness of its lineup with a singular commitment to a cold supply chain. Every Lawson’s Finest brew is always cold stored, cold shipped and cold shelved to ensure it’s enjoyed brewery-fresh. 

Notable beer releases included Path of Totality (7.5% ABV), a Good Brews for a Cause limited-release Black IPA crafted to celebrate Vermont’s first complete solar eclipse since 1932. Brewed in honor of nature’s spectacle, Path of Totality sold out quickly and a portion of proceeds supported ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

Lawson’s Finest partnered with American World Cup alpine ski racer Paula Moltzan to create Paula’s World IPA (6.2% ABV) in November, a limited time celebration of Paula’s incredible ski season, and Vermont’s vibrant ski culture and après ski beer tradition. 

Another exciting limited release brew, Freestyle IPA (6.8% ABV) made its distribution debut in 2024. An ode to experimentation and the early days of Lawson’s Finest, when recipes were created on a whim at the original 7-barrel brewery, Freestyle is an approachable West Coast Style IPA imagined by Founding Brewer Sean Lawson and CEO Adeline Druart as a training exercise for the brewery’s first-hired CEO. 

To cultivate the most exceptional experiences at their destination brewery and taproom in Vermont’s Mad River Valley in Waitsfield, Lawson’s Finest also expanded its seasonal, craft centric food menu. Offering authentic Vermont flavors and seasonal dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Lawson’s Finest’s carefully curated beer and food menu, paired with two nearby brewery-owned AirBnBs, makes this beer destination the perfect place to gather and experience Vermont’s finest flavors with the whole crew.

BREWING WITH PURPOSE

Lawson’s Finest proudly released their first ever Impact Report in 2024, offering accountability and transparency into the various initiatives largely falling under their Social Impact Program (SIP). Lawson’s Finest Social Impact Program reached more than $2.5 million donated to 399 worthwhile causes and community-building efforts since 2018. Recognized for its delicious Mad River Maple Ale (8% ABV) and its sustainability- and community-minded business practices, Lawson’s Finest earned a Good Food Award for the second year in a row this April. 

The brewery also celebrated GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to radical generosity, by donating $75,000 to 54 nonprofit organizations through its Sip of Support program. This year’s giving supported a range of causes across Vermont with donations of up to $5,000 to organizations focusing on community development, conservation, recreation, food access and more. 

Another key priority is sustainably, and Lawson’s Finest achieved the goal of becoming Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership (EVAL) certified. The brewery is committed to continual innovation and investment in sustainability, and this major milestone reflected their core belief that green is grand. The destination taproom is outfitted with 12 level-two electric vehicle charging stations, powered by the largest solar canopy in the state of Vermont, constructed by Lawson’s Finest in 2022.

One of the B Corp Certified brewery’s top priorities is taking care of the people who make, serve, promote and enjoy their finest brews every day. Lawson’s Finest introduced a month-long sabbatical for employees with five years of service in 2024.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025

Lawson’s Finest has plans to keep the goodness going into 2025, celebrating its 10 year anniversary of Sip of Sunshine with a focus on growth for core brands, innovative limited releases, new sustainability goals, and continued support for the always-cold freshness model that Lawson’s Finest has maintained over the last 15 years. 

“Goodness tends to grow, so we plan on building more on this foundation of giving each year,” said Druart. “Plus, 2025 will bring the ten year anniversary of Sip of Sunshine, the fan-favorite IPA in the iconic yellow can. There will be plenty of celebration in store as we champion Sip of Sunshine and the other delicious beers in its brand family.”

ABOUT LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS

Lawson’s Finest Liquids crafts and delivers the finest and freshest beer possible to delight fans and to cultivate healthy, vibrant communities through its Social Impact Program. The SIP has raised more than $2 Million for important causes since 2018. The brewery is a values-driven B Corp certified business with a commitment to excellence, authenticity, community, sustainability and fun. Founded by Sean and Karen Lawson, the company boasts a growing collection of award-winning beers brewed with passion and precision including the renowned Sunshine family of IPAs. Beginning as a home-based 1-barrel nanobrewery in 2008, Lawson’s Finest expanded production capacity in 2011 and 2014, growing to include distribution across 12 states. In 2018, Lawson’s Finest opened its popular destination Brewery, Taproom and Retail Store in central Vermont’s Mad River Valley town of Waitsfield. For more information on Lawson’s Finest Liquids, visit lawsonsfinest.com or follow the company on Instagram (@lawsonsfinest) and Facebook (@lawsonsfinestliquids).