Sip Of Sunshine
Lawson's Finest Liquids

Sip Of SunshineSip Of Sunshine
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From:
Lawson's Finest Liquids
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #9
ABV:
8%
Score:
100
Ranked #98
Avg:
4.55 | pDev: 7.25%
Reviews:
888
Ratings:
6,165
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 08:53 PM
Added:
Apr 03, 2014
Wants:
  1,526
Gots:
  2,704
This lupulin-ladin India Pale Ale is packed with juicy tropical fruit character, bright floral aromas and delectable layers of hop flavor. Pour mindfully, inhale deeply and enjoy a tropical vacation in a glass. Always store cold, enjoy fresh and stay cool!

Sip of Sunshine IPA is brewed by Lawson’s Finest Liquids at Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford CT.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Hendry:
Photo of Hendry
Reviewed by Hendry from Vermont

4.5/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
There are a good amount of opinions and some dissention by a number of loyal Lawson's Finest Liquids devotees regarding SIP OF SUNSHINE IIPA. For starters, this beer, while Sean Lawson's recipe, is produced at and by Two Roads brewery in CT, so when someone like myself looks at a tap list of a well respected tap room (that shall remain nameless) and notices that the "origin" of the beer is listed as "Vermont," and a 12 oz. pour is $8 (same price as Double Sunshine), there is a feeling of deception (in defense of Lawson's, another more reputable tap house mentions the origin of brewing as CT). Bottom line, it feels deceiving buying a "Lawson's" beer that isn't hand crafted by Sean Lawson himself.

Sip Of Sunshine is what Lawson's draft accounts are getting a steady supply of, which enables Lawson's to produce more bottles for market events and retail for select store locations (which are in demand at insanity levels). I cannot for one second blame Sean Lawson for cashing in on his strong reputation in the brewing industry, and truth be told most that get to try Sip of Sunshine have no idea where it is brewed or by who, but there is a bit of disconnect for his local fans. It should be noted that this is the second batch of Sip, considered by locals as "2.0" (I did not get to try "1.0").Enough said about the politics of Sip of Sunshine, and on to the review.

Hoppy Vermont IIPAs are traditionally cloudy and opaque: when Sip arrived on my table, the first thing I noticed was the lack of delightful unfiltered cloudiness I have come to appreciate so much. Sip looks more like a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA that has been through a centrifuge than it does a Lawson's IIPA . Minimal head and average lacing.

Nose was definitely hop forward as one would expect, but the word SUNSHINE inevitably invites the comparison to Lawson's Double Sunshine, which it takes a back seat to for my tastes. Notes of mango and pineapple are enjoyable.

Flavor is where SOS delivers the goods: this is a fine tasting IIPA by all respects, regardless of who or where it was brewed. The Mango and pineapple jump out, and prove this to be a very bright and bouncy palate pleaser. Moderate amount of residual bitterness,finishes relatively dry and crisp. ABV quite well hidden amongst the tropical fruit blast to the palate.

Mouthfeel is pleasant, if not a tad thin for a Lawson's IIPA, but it works.

All politics aside, SOS is a genuinely enjoyable IIPA that Sean Lawson plans to continue tweaking and eventually put in cans. I suspect that the Lawson's name alone will command no less than a $15 price tag for four 16 oz. cans, but I would consider it another welcome choice in the cooler providing it lasts more than a few hours there like the LFL bombers.
**************UPDATE 12/25/14******************************************
Sip has arrived in cans, recipe tweaked,and price point @ $13.99 for a 4 pack of 16 oz. cans is a home run. Regardless where this is brewed,CT or VT, Sip is solid offering that has earned my respect. Highly recommended
Jun 02, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.87 by Tbone10 from Wisconsin

Sunday at 08:53 PM
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.58/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
19.2 oz can pkg date 8 Jan 24 into a tall 20 oz glass.
L: SRM 5 Pours vibrant medium-light hazed orange rind color with a fluffy dense eggshell white head, lightly lush steady carbonation bubbles, head recedes to thick edge froth & skin, medium random lacing.
S: Citrus, light pineapple, moderately tropical, bold orange, caramelized malts.
T: Stately orange tastes that unfold, fruit bread, tangerine zest, pine resin, a hint of sea salt, a faint spicy peppery hop note, rich caramelized malts are behind the hops. Tastes are mildly intense and are slightly sharp.
F: Very brisk, ardent, and taught medium-bodied feel with a broad medium-long length fairly drying finish.
O: Citrus, orange, tangerine forward, zest, and highly caramelized malts propel this beer to the highest order. It is almost citrus saturated with indefinite zest but some malts come in and ride out alongside the resinous lingering finish. Every sip is brisk and delicious. This is a beer drinkers beer. It is world-class in its style.
Mar 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.75 by DrBass from Maryland

Feb 29, 2024
Photo of Roxchambeau
Reviewed by Roxchambeau from New Jersey

4.27/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours amber, fairly clear. slight Haze. 1.5 finger foam dissipates to a small cap and nice lacing. Smell is incredible! Leads with tropical fruit, with some nice hops underneath. The taste is slightly less impressive - pithy orange and a load of bitterness. Little bit of pine on the finish, which is another high point. The finish is dry and refreshing. Reminds me of a turned up Bell's Two hearted. Very good, but not 5/5 IMO.
Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.02 by ppark94 from New Jersey

Feb 09, 2024
 
Rated: 4.6 by Hendrick24 from Wisconsin

Jan 24, 2024
 
Rated: 4.39 by Smithbo from Pennsylvania

Jan 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.64 by BeerJesus from South Carolina

Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.75 by JLaw55 from Missouri

Nov 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.99 by Luca2020 from Massachusetts

Nov 28, 2023
Photo of Tuck_leepulin
Reviewed by Tuck_leepulin from Texas

4.59/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
16oz Can poured into a Spiegelau IPA Glass. Canned on date: 09/05/2023.

Appearance: Pours a rich, semi clear amber with 2 fingers of head

Aroma: Fruity hop aromas interspersed with some cracker-malt and fresh bread

Taste: Full hop flavor up front with bready malt notes in the middle with a clean finish that leaves residual hop notes, well-balanced without any excessive bitterness

Mouthfeel: Medium with a satisfying dry finish

Overall: An outstanding IPA that tends towards West-Coast yet being from New England. I purposely am reviewing a can thats 3 months old and it is still drinking fantastic
Nov 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.53 by blaje from Canada (QC)

Nov 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.68 by guzzleacoldone from Ohio

Nov 11, 2023
 
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.46/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Packaged Sept 18/23 - purchased cold from convenience store in Stowe, VT - kept cold.
Pours a bright clear golden orange with three fingers of foamy just slightly off white head. A touch of chill haze.
A lot of ripe citrus and tropical fruit on the nose - pineapple, mango, papaya. Floral and piney and as warmed a touch dank.
Sweet tropical fruit, ripe orange, bready malt sweetness on the palate but with a spicy and piney bitterness, some notes of grapefruit peel.
Medium mouthfeel - smooth and slick hiding the 8% making it dangerously drinkable; moderate carbonation - bittersweet finish.
Nov 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by Samnem from Pennsylvania

Nov 01, 2023
Photo of Greymane
Rated by Greymane from France

4.87/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Had my first taste in Burlington, VT in 2015. Hands down my favorite East Coast IPA.
Oct 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.76 by beerrat from Virginia

Oct 27, 2023
Photo of KrakowBluegrass
Rated by KrakowBluegrass from Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
It’s a great one. I love everything about it.
Oct 21, 2023
Sip Of Sunshine from Lawson's Finest Liquids
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 6165 ratings