Lawson's Super Session #2
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Tasting Notes
The nose leads with tropical and citrus hop character — think mango, tangerine, and a faint piney underpinning — with very little malt interference to distract from it. On the palate, the hops stay bright and forward, backed by a light, almost watery body that keeps bitterness restrained rather than assertive. The finish is dry and clean, fading quickly without lingering resin. It punches well above its weight in hop aroma relative to its modest strength.
About the Brewery
Lawson's Finest Liquids is based in Waitsfield, Vermont, and has built a strong regional reputation on hop-forward ales, particularly their Sip of Sunshine IPA, which has become a sought-after staple in New England beer culture. They opened a dedicated production facility and taproom in Waitsfield to meet demand that long outpaced their earlier small-batch operation. Their focus sits squarely on hop-driven beers made with Vermont water and a clear preference for aroma over brute bitterness.
Food Pairings
Fish tacos work well here because the bright citrus hop character mirrors lime and picks up the heat from any salsa or hot sauce. A simple grain bowl with avocado and pickled vegetables lets the beer's dry finish act as a palate reset between bites. Goat cheese on flatbread is a natural match — the tangy, creamy cheese softens the hop bite without fighting it. Grilled shrimp seasoned with garlic and lemon echoes the beer's citrus notes without overwhelming the modest body.
Style Guide
American Session IPAs are built around the challenge of delivering recognizable IPA hop character — tropical, citrus, or resinous aroma and flavor — at an ABV typically under 5%, where malt structure is intentionally lean. The style grew out of the broader session beer movement and the American craft IPA boom, with brewers finding ways to load dry hops into low-gravity wort without the body that usually carries them. Compared to a standard American IPA, the body is noticeably lighter and bitterness is dialed back, making hop aroma the primary calling card rather than palate intensity.