Spring Fever Session IPA | Lawson's Finest Liquids
Brewed by:
Lawson's Finest Liquids
Vermont, United States | website
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.80%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by stearns16 on 04-23-2013
Reviews: 36 | Ratings: 278
4.45/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lawson's Finest Liquids - Spring Fever Session IPA, poured into a Lawson's tulip
Look - Pours a hazy orange with an amber hue. Good sized soapy head that dissipates at a medium pace and leaves a good amount of lacing. This brew has probably half of the "thickness" of its meaner cousin Double Sunshine, which makes sense since it is much less dense and less alcohol.
Smell - Grapefruit and orange hop aroma is lighter than Double Sunshine but only by a smidge but still amazingly juicy with a faint bite at the end, just like Double Sunshine.
Taste - Full flavored for a session brew (slightly watery) for sure. Juicy fruity hops followed by a nice piney bitter finish.
Mouthfeel - Sits slightly bitter but fades, doesn't abuse the palate like some others but it definitely has its way with your taste buds due to the bittering hops used. Zero booziness (duh). Good drinkability. Feels medium-bodied but in reality it is on the light side.
Overall - This brew is terrific as session brews go. Most session brews are watered down counterparts to better brews, while I compare this to Double Sunshine, this brew does stand quite well on its own. Recommend for session fans, would say stick to the bigger brews for those who aren't looking for a <4% experience.
★ 1,266 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lawson's Finest Liquids - Spring Fever Session IPA, poured into a Lawson's tulip
Look - Pours a hazy orange with an amber hue. Good sized soapy head that dissipates at a medium pace and leaves a good amount of lacing. This brew has probably half of the "thickness" of its meaner cousin Double Sunshine, which makes sense since it is much less dense and less alcohol.
Smell - Grapefruit and orange hop aroma is lighter than Double Sunshine but only by a smidge but still amazingly juicy with a faint bite at the end, just like Double Sunshine.
Taste - Full flavored for a session brew (slightly watery) for sure. Juicy fruity hops followed by a nice piney bitter finish.
Mouthfeel - Sits slightly bitter but fades, doesn't abuse the palate like some others but it definitely has its way with your taste buds due to the bittering hops used. Zero booziness (duh). Good drinkability. Feels medium-bodied but in reality it is on the light side.
Overall - This brew is terrific as session brews go. Most session brews are watered down counterparts to better brews, while I compare this to Double Sunshine, this brew does stand quite well on its own. Recommend for session fans, would say stick to the bigger brews for those who aren't looking for a <4% experience.
★ 1,266 characters
4.43/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
About as perfect a session IPA as possible. Tastes like a full ABV IPA with one exception, lack of bitterness somewhere between the middle and finish. Light copper color, fluffy white head, tropical fruit aroma. Medium body and slightly above average carbonation.
★ 263 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
About as perfect a session IPA as possible. Tastes like a full ABV IPA with one exception, lack of bitterness somewhere between the middle and finish. Light copper color, fluffy white head, tropical fruit aroma. Medium body and slightly above average carbonation.
★ 263 characters
4.38/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
New beer to me from Lawson's. Very low alcohol content 3.8, but still a very surprising amount of hop taste. It's a good beer, but not as good as the latest Lawson offering Ava or Heady Topper. This would be a great every day beer and a great Summer beer.
★ 255 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
New beer to me from Lawson's. Very low alcohol content 3.8, but still a very surprising amount of hop taste. It's a good beer, but not as good as the latest Lawson offering Ava or Heady Topper. This would be a great every day beer and a great Summer beer.
★ 255 characters
4.37/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark orange in the glass with a dense white head. Big round body and mouthfeel. Pine and candied orange peel are the flavors I get. Crisp, biting bitter finish. Drinks like a traditional IPA. Impressive flavor in a session beer.
★ 234 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark orange in the glass with a dense white head. Big round body and mouthfeel. Pine and candied orange peel are the flavors I get. Crisp, biting bitter finish. Drinks like a traditional IPA. Impressive flavor in a session beer.
★ 234 characters
4.32/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lawson Lite? A delicious little treat from Lawson's Finest that has all the wonderfulness of their beers, but won't fill you up! A nice, lite beer for the spring time following in the trend of "session" beers. Smells great, but not a real heavy beer and definitely very easy to drink.
★ 284 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lawson Lite? A delicious little treat from Lawson's Finest that has all the wonderfulness of their beers, but won't fill you up! A nice, lite beer for the spring time following in the trend of "session" beers. Smells great, but not a real heavy beer and definitely very easy to drink.
★ 284 characters
4.26/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours straw colored with some haze. Head seems lively enough in the tiny, plastic sampler cup.
S-Laughably hoppy for a beer at 3.3%. Lawson-esque hop profile. Bright citrus and grass with subordinate pine. Misty notes of sweet popover.
T-Hoppier than many DIPAs. A hulking hop character that just makes me grin. Big citrus, some secondary fruit, big grass, big pine. Sweet, little malt skin. Mostly just a hop-bomb at 1/3 the ABV of most.
M-Won't waste too much time here. As drinkable as they come.
O/D-I pitch a full-on pants tent for violenty hoppy, session beers. This one is about as low as I'd want any beer to be in terms of alcohol and its loaded with as much hoppiness as any IPA or even DIPA with any clout in my book.
★ 734 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours straw colored with some haze. Head seems lively enough in the tiny, plastic sampler cup.
S-Laughably hoppy for a beer at 3.3%. Lawson-esque hop profile. Bright citrus and grass with subordinate pine. Misty notes of sweet popover.
T-Hoppier than many DIPAs. A hulking hop character that just makes me grin. Big citrus, some secondary fruit, big grass, big pine. Sweet, little malt skin. Mostly just a hop-bomb at 1/3 the ABV of most.
M-Won't waste too much time here. As drinkable as they come.
O/D-I pitch a full-on pants tent for violenty hoppy, session beers. This one is about as low as I'd want any beer to be in terms of alcohol and its loaded with as much hoppiness as any IPA or even DIPA with any clout in my book.
★ 734 characters
4.26/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
a style of beer I would love to see more of, this brew from lawsons should be the blueprint. if these were available super cheap, I think water, orange juice, tea, and other staple beverages would fall out of my diet entirely. an average looking pour, pale and popping off with soda-like carbonation that helps a two finger white lacey head build. the nose on it is really fresh zesty hops, has to be citra or sorachi ace. there is so much lemon and tangerine to this that im not sure what other varieties it could be. the flavor is exactly like the orange starburst from the tropical flavors light blue pack. sweet and citrusy, fresh as anything, perfect. there is a surprising degree of light malt balance to this, as its not just all hops the whole way through. low on bitterness, its actually a grassy cleanness that washes through the finish. my bottle said 3.8% abv, not 3.3% as listed, but I found it to be just right. light enough to drink it down and be refreshed, but sturdy enough to still be a beer really. light body, fantastic carbonation, and an overall level of satisfaction that is extremely high. if I end up spending my summer in the champlain valley, I will be hammering this stuff.
★ 1,202 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
a style of beer I would love to see more of, this brew from lawsons should be the blueprint. if these were available super cheap, I think water, orange juice, tea, and other staple beverages would fall out of my diet entirely. an average looking pour, pale and popping off with soda-like carbonation that helps a two finger white lacey head build. the nose on it is really fresh zesty hops, has to be citra or sorachi ace. there is so much lemon and tangerine to this that im not sure what other varieties it could be. the flavor is exactly like the orange starburst from the tropical flavors light blue pack. sweet and citrusy, fresh as anything, perfect. there is a surprising degree of light malt balance to this, as its not just all hops the whole way through. low on bitterness, its actually a grassy cleanness that washes through the finish. my bottle said 3.8% abv, not 3.3% as listed, but I found it to be just right. light enough to drink it down and be refreshed, but sturdy enough to still be a beer really. light body, fantastic carbonation, and an overall level of satisfaction that is extremely high. if I end up spending my summer in the champlain valley, I will be hammering this stuff.
★ 1,202 characters
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
nice slightly hazy golden orange.
nose is faint but pleasant. earthy dankness, light pine and subtle grassiness, a bit of citrus zest and some sweetness.
pleasantly surprised by the taste. bright citrus up front and really nice bubblegum sweetness, some bready malts and a touch of bitterness on the finish. mouthfeel is light, very nice level of carbonation. overall not a ton going on but thats not surprising given that its at 3.8%. also not surprising that lawsons have crafted this delicate session ale that completely nails it in terms of finding a great balance between flavor and crushability. if for some reason you wanted to drink an absolutely obscene amount, and drink a tasty beer while doing so... this is the one! unfortunately you can only get it 1 bottle at a time very infrequently - until the new brewery opens!!!
★ 836 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
nice slightly hazy golden orange.
nose is faint but pleasant. earthy dankness, light pine and subtle grassiness, a bit of citrus zest and some sweetness.
pleasantly surprised by the taste. bright citrus up front and really nice bubblegum sweetness, some bready malts and a touch of bitterness on the finish. mouthfeel is light, very nice level of carbonation. overall not a ton going on but thats not surprising given that its at 3.8%. also not surprising that lawsons have crafted this delicate session ale that completely nails it in terms of finding a great balance between flavor and crushability. if for some reason you wanted to drink an absolutely obscene amount, and drink a tasty beer while doing so... this is the one! unfortunately you can only get it 1 bottle at a time very infrequently - until the new brewery opens!!!
★ 836 characters
4.24/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
We pour a brew of dark golden straw coloring. It puts up a two finger head of gingerbread colored bubbles, affixing creamy ridges of lacing around the glass as it goes at a medium pace. A chill haze is noted, with no sediment. Carbonation appears to be mild. The aroma gives chalky pales and lightly cereal and corny malts, parchment paper, white flour, lightly tart yeastiness, syrupy citric, nectary, and grassy hops, toast, lavender florals, and sour brassiness. Our first impression is that the flavoring is heavily malt forward, but it seems appropriate for the sessionability of it, and in keeping with the light, earthy, grassiness of the hops. As we sip, the taste opens with acorn nuttiness, pale grain, dried straw, toasted wheat breadiness, popcorn butters, white flour, starkly grassy and resiny hop freshness, and an airy, sweet, rosy bouquet of florals. The middle comes to a peak with soured malt backbone, mineral bitterness, piney and grassy hops, lemon rind bitterness, walnut oils, and honeydew melon sweetness. The end washes with piney hop resins, graphite, continued white flour and chalked yeastiness, drying floral pollens, charred ham meatiness, Band-Aid phenols, chokecherry, corny grain, and mineral bitterness. The aftertaste breathes of dirty rainwater, grassy hops, brassy metallics, white sugar, toasty pales and lightly adjuncty grain, herbal basil rumbles, freshly pulled floral earthiness, rice pasta starchiness, gravel, and sweet honey bite. The body is lightly medium, and the carbonation is medium, but bubbles up on the swirl. Each sip gives soft slurp, froth, cream, smack, and pop, with inclusive creamy coating and finishing hoppy pucker across the palate and down the tongue. No real astringency is appreciated. The abv is easy, and the beer glugs down easily.
Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was its aroma, especially with warmth. Here we experience a ton of hops for as light a brew it is, with nice variability to include grassy and earthy bite, with sweeter, more floral overtones to match the stark boldness and forwardness of the malts. This is equally as true through the flavoring, with bright grain taking just as much a part of the center stage as the resiny, floral hoppiness. This is a simplistic, easy drinking beer, with a nice body, remaining highly sessionable throughout. This seems to really be the future of the style and the movement, with more breweries pumping out highly drinkable beers that will last the day, rather than 13% monsters that you can only enjoy six ounces of. Either way, this was a great introduction to Lawson’s, and we look forward to the next of Spring Fever’s kin that we can track down.
★ 2,692 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
We pour a brew of dark golden straw coloring. It puts up a two finger head of gingerbread colored bubbles, affixing creamy ridges of lacing around the glass as it goes at a medium pace. A chill haze is noted, with no sediment. Carbonation appears to be mild. The aroma gives chalky pales and lightly cereal and corny malts, parchment paper, white flour, lightly tart yeastiness, syrupy citric, nectary, and grassy hops, toast, lavender florals, and sour brassiness. Our first impression is that the flavoring is heavily malt forward, but it seems appropriate for the sessionability of it, and in keeping with the light, earthy, grassiness of the hops. As we sip, the taste opens with acorn nuttiness, pale grain, dried straw, toasted wheat breadiness, popcorn butters, white flour, starkly grassy and resiny hop freshness, and an airy, sweet, rosy bouquet of florals. The middle comes to a peak with soured malt backbone, mineral bitterness, piney and grassy hops, lemon rind bitterness, walnut oils, and honeydew melon sweetness. The end washes with piney hop resins, graphite, continued white flour and chalked yeastiness, drying floral pollens, charred ham meatiness, Band-Aid phenols, chokecherry, corny grain, and mineral bitterness. The aftertaste breathes of dirty rainwater, grassy hops, brassy metallics, white sugar, toasty pales and lightly adjuncty grain, herbal basil rumbles, freshly pulled floral earthiness, rice pasta starchiness, gravel, and sweet honey bite. The body is lightly medium, and the carbonation is medium, but bubbles up on the swirl. Each sip gives soft slurp, froth, cream, smack, and pop, with inclusive creamy coating and finishing hoppy pucker across the palate and down the tongue. No real astringency is appreciated. The abv is easy, and the beer glugs down easily.
Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was its aroma, especially with warmth. Here we experience a ton of hops for as light a brew it is, with nice variability to include grassy and earthy bite, with sweeter, more floral overtones to match the stark boldness and forwardness of the malts. This is equally as true through the flavoring, with bright grain taking just as much a part of the center stage as the resiny, floral hoppiness. This is a simplistic, easy drinking beer, with a nice body, remaining highly sessionable throughout. This seems to really be the future of the style and the movement, with more breweries pumping out highly drinkable beers that will last the day, rather than 13% monsters that you can only enjoy six ounces of. Either way, this was a great introduction to Lawson’s, and we look forward to the next of Spring Fever’s kin that we can track down.
★ 2,692 characters
4.23/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a hazy goldenstraw color capped by a snow white head of foam that leaves lovely swathes of lace
Smell: Pink grapefruit, tangelo and a hint of peaches and cream
Taste: Just a hint of fresh baked bread on the front end and then the hops take over, bringing delicate citrus and a hint of peaches and cream, in the middle; the finish is dry and the flavor fades a bit, but the cream lingers a bit, adding complexity
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: I am ecstatic when I find good session beers and I imagine a delicate one like this one needs to be consumed very fresh; as it was just released last weekend, I was excited to taste it
Thanks, Denzo, for the opportunity
★ 713 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a hazy goldenstraw color capped by a snow white head of foam that leaves lovely swathes of lace
Smell: Pink grapefruit, tangelo and a hint of peaches and cream
Taste: Just a hint of fresh baked bread on the front end and then the hops take over, bringing delicate citrus and a hint of peaches and cream, in the middle; the finish is dry and the flavor fades a bit, but the cream lingers a bit, adding complexity
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: I am ecstatic when I find good session beers and I imagine a delicate one like this one needs to be consumed very fresh; as it was just released last weekend, I was excited to taste it
Thanks, Denzo, for the opportunity
★ 713 characters
4.18/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
First had on tap at ProPig, but this review is from the bottle.
Poured into a Lawson's becher, hazy, bright amber color, with a half inch of white head that sank to a ringlet, and laced the glass generously. Nice aroma full of pine and citrus, fresh hops. For a lower ABV brew, this beer is loaded with flavor, crisp, citrus hops, pine needles, some light sugary sweetness, and a bready pale malt base. Pretty much everything a good IPA should be, at a super sessionable ABV. Light-medium body, crisp, super drinkable. Drink this fresh and cold! I'm almost sorry I didn't get more than 2 bottles of it.
★ 603 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
First had on tap at ProPig, but this review is from the bottle.
Poured into a Lawson's becher, hazy, bright amber color, with a half inch of white head that sank to a ringlet, and laced the glass generously. Nice aroma full of pine and citrus, fresh hops. For a lower ABV brew, this beer is loaded with flavor, crisp, citrus hops, pine needles, some light sugary sweetness, and a bready pale malt base. Pretty much everything a good IPA should be, at a super sessionable ABV. Light-medium body, crisp, super drinkable. Drink this fresh and cold! I'm almost sorry I didn't get more than 2 bottles of it.
★ 603 characters
4.15/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle served into Teku. Big thanks to ILOVESTOUTS for this bottle. My first Lawson's.
A - Pours a light orange hue with a finger of white foam. Very cloudy. Looks like a lighter Heady.
S - Smells of mango and pine merge together to form a very satisfying smelling IPA. Could use more punch though.
T - Upfront, tastes exactly like it smells. Tropical fruits, which is followed by a very piney resin flavor. That fades into a scone like sweetness. I'm very surprised this is considered a "session" IPA with this flavor profile. Each taste is very pronounced and blends into itself on each step. This is very tasty!
M - Plenty of carbonation. Very drink-able mouthfeel. The name fits the bill on this one. Could drink these for hours.
O - This will go down as the most flavorful under 5% beer I've had to date. It's like a Heady Topper Jr. I hope I can get a couple of these in summer time.
★ 899 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle served into Teku. Big thanks to ILOVESTOUTS for this bottle. My first Lawson's.
A - Pours a light orange hue with a finger of white foam. Very cloudy. Looks like a lighter Heady.
S - Smells of mango and pine merge together to form a very satisfying smelling IPA. Could use more punch though.
T - Upfront, tastes exactly like it smells. Tropical fruits, which is followed by a very piney resin flavor. That fades into a scone like sweetness. I'm very surprised this is considered a "session" IPA with this flavor profile. Each taste is very pronounced and blends into itself on each step. This is very tasty!
M - Plenty of carbonation. Very drink-able mouthfeel. The name fits the bill on this one. Could drink these for hours.
O - This will go down as the most flavorful under 5% beer I've had to date. It's like a Heady Topper Jr. I hope I can get a couple of these in summer time.
★ 899 characters
4.15/5 rDev +2.7%
A-light amber color with a nice white head and good lacing
S-citrus, tropical fruit, pine, light malt
T-light bready malt base, pineapple, citrus, mango, pine, moderate bitter finish
F-light to medium body with moderate carbonation, clean and crisp
O-this is the best session IPA I have had to date, wish this were made year round
★ 334 characters
A-light amber color with a nice white head and good lacing
S-citrus, tropical fruit, pine, light malt
T-light bready malt base, pineapple, citrus, mango, pine, moderate bitter finish
F-light to medium body with moderate carbonation, clean and crisp
O-this is the best session IPA I have had to date, wish this were made year round
★ 334 characters
4.14/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a bomber into a a Lost Abbey Teku. About a week old.
Appearance- Almost cleaar amber with one finger bubbly white head with nice lacing.
Smell- Grapefruit and tangerine hops with light floral and pine notes. Very fruity. Decent malt backbone detected.
Taste- More pine and grassy hops than fruit. Finish is kind of grapefruity bitter. Taste doesn''t deliver as much as the nose.
Mouthfeel- Highly carbonated, medium mouthfeel, dry. Heavier body than expected from a 3.8%.
Overall- A good session IPA, but where the nose is great, the taste doesn't deliver as much.
★ 581 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a bomber into a a Lost Abbey Teku. About a week old.
Appearance- Almost cleaar amber with one finger bubbly white head with nice lacing.
Smell- Grapefruit and tangerine hops with light floral and pine notes. Very fruity. Decent malt backbone detected.
Taste- More pine and grassy hops than fruit. Finish is kind of grapefruity bitter. Taste doesn''t deliver as much as the nose.
Mouthfeel- Highly carbonated, medium mouthfeel, dry. Heavier body than expected from a 3.8%.
Overall- A good session IPA, but where the nose is great, the taste doesn't deliver as much.
★ 581 characters
4.11/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The gorgeous gold foil topped bottle invites you to pop the cap on this bomber.
Appearance is a cloudy yellowish hue with a medium head that takes a quick bow and exits stage left.
The aroma is quite similar to the legendary Double Sunshine (a.k.a. "Dubs") but not quite as heavy. The tropical fruits are all there,mainly the mango vibe, and it is a mouth watering nose that is very enticing and pleasant. All of the elements are in place for a great beer,
but the true test, the taste/aftertaste, are where the wheels came off for me.
Curly Howard of The 3 Stooges had a memorable line when he tasted fruit punch at a high society party: "the RUM went through this punch on STILTS!" In this case "the DUBS went through this ale on STILTS!"
The initial blast of tropical flavor and piney bitterness across the palate falls off the cliff almost immediately ,leaving a buttered cracker & yeasty aftertaste. Understandable why this one was on "special" at the 5th Anniversary event for a few bucks less than I paid for it two days earlier, and why there were still leftover bombers of Spring Fever after the event.
Like Hebrew National's slogan "we are held to a higher standard," such is the case with Lawson's Finest Liquids. I am a devotee of Lawson's, and have given stellar ratings to their other varieties, but this one just didn't get it done for me.
The idea of a Lawson's "session ale" itself is a contradiction in terms: most people are lucky to get their hands on a single bottle, much less have a session with it.
★ 1,528 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The gorgeous gold foil topped bottle invites you to pop the cap on this bomber.
Appearance is a cloudy yellowish hue with a medium head that takes a quick bow and exits stage left.
The aroma is quite similar to the legendary Double Sunshine (a.k.a. "Dubs") but not quite as heavy. The tropical fruits are all there,mainly the mango vibe, and it is a mouth watering nose that is very enticing and pleasant. All of the elements are in place for a great beer,
but the true test, the taste/aftertaste, are where the wheels came off for me.
Curly Howard of The 3 Stooges had a memorable line when he tasted fruit punch at a high society party: "the RUM went through this punch on STILTS!" In this case "the DUBS went through this ale on STILTS!"
The initial blast of tropical flavor and piney bitterness across the palate falls off the cliff almost immediately ,leaving a buttered cracker & yeasty aftertaste. Understandable why this one was on "special" at the 5th Anniversary event for a few bucks less than I paid for it two days earlier, and why there were still leftover bombers of Spring Fever after the event.
Like Hebrew National's slogan "we are held to a higher standard," such is the case with Lawson's Finest Liquids. I am a devotee of Lawson's, and have given stellar ratings to their other varieties, but this one just didn't get it done for me.
The idea of a Lawson's "session ale" itself is a contradiction in terms: most people are lucky to get their hands on a single bottle, much less have a session with it.
★ 1,528 characters
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Not a session IPA fan but if I had to choose one to drink, this would win hands down. The amount of hop flavor that is contained in this beer is insane for a session. Grabbed this in VT while I was getting my three cases of Heady. So glad I did!
★ 248 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Not a session IPA fan but if I had to choose one to drink, this would win hands down. The amount of hop flavor that is contained in this beer is insane for a session. Grabbed this in VT while I was getting my three cases of Heady. So glad I did!
★ 248 characters
4.08/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Spring Fever pours a cloudy straw yellow with a moderate, creamy head on top. The foam disappears quickly leaving a few spots and lines of lace on the glass.
The aroma has nice orange citrus notes, a little lemon and pine and some mustiness lingering in the background. The aroma fades quickly after as you drink the beer.
Each sip of this light to medium bodied beer is smooth with mild carbonation. The flavor begins with orange and lemon citrus. That's followed by some earthy, bready malt. It finishes very dry with pine notes and hoppy bitterness. Once gone the pine bitterness and a little citrus lingers on the palate.
For a session beer this brew packs a lot of flavor. The dryness and musty notes threw me off a little, but overall I could definitely drink a couple of these at a sitting.
★ 800 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Spring Fever pours a cloudy straw yellow with a moderate, creamy head on top. The foam disappears quickly leaving a few spots and lines of lace on the glass.
The aroma has nice orange citrus notes, a little lemon and pine and some mustiness lingering in the background. The aroma fades quickly after as you drink the beer.
Each sip of this light to medium bodied beer is smooth with mild carbonation. The flavor begins with orange and lemon citrus. That's followed by some earthy, bready malt. It finishes very dry with pine notes and hoppy bitterness. Once gone the pine bitterness and a little citrus lingers on the palate.
For a session beer this brew packs a lot of flavor. The dryness and musty notes threw me off a little, but overall I could definitely drink a couple of these at a sitting.
★ 800 characters
4.07/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the 22 oz,. bomber into a Lawsons snifter
a: Almost clear dark gold with a half finger thick white head which receded to uneven surface foam and dense lacing.
s: Mild pine and citrus
t: Pine and citrus over a medium malt base. Naturally becomes more strictly bitter as it warms, but not enough to be annoying.
m; Medium. Good body.
o; Outstanding session IPA!
★ 376 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the 22 oz,. bomber into a Lawsons snifter
a: Almost clear dark gold with a half finger thick white head which receded to uneven surface foam and dense lacing.
s: Mild pine and citrus
t: Pine and citrus over a medium malt base. Naturally becomes more strictly bitter as it warms, but not enough to be annoying.
m; Medium. Good body.
o; Outstanding session IPA!
★ 376 characters
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Session IPA can really impress me or really let me down.
No surprise that Sean makes a very impressive Session IPA with Spring Fever.
Poured out of the bottle into a snifter.
Nice light yellow color, light head.
Smell was delightful, very hoppy, very floral and sweet as well.
Taste was not as big as the aromas might suggest, but it is a session IPA.
Hops were forward but not a resin bomb by any means. Mild bitterness.
Overall, for a light ABV beer, I really enjoyed this Spring Fever.
★ 488 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Session IPA can really impress me or really let me down.
No surprise that Sean makes a very impressive Session IPA with Spring Fever.
Poured out of the bottle into a snifter.
Nice light yellow color, light head.
Smell was delightful, very hoppy, very floral and sweet as well.
Taste was not as big as the aromas might suggest, but it is a session IPA.
Hops were forward but not a resin bomb by any means. Mild bitterness.
Overall, for a light ABV beer, I really enjoyed this Spring Fever.
★ 488 characters
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Lunch. Thanks Paul.
Copper orange body with a half inch of head. Aromas include a bouquet of citrus and tropical fruits. Flavor is more of the same with pineapple, orange, mango, finishing with grapefruit zest. Citrus rind and lingering bitter finish. Thin body, but that's to be expected in a >4% session IPA. Refreshing and easy drinking. Good stuff.
★ 373 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Lunch. Thanks Paul.
Copper orange body with a half inch of head. Aromas include a bouquet of citrus and tropical fruits. Flavor is more of the same with pineapple, orange, mango, finishing with grapefruit zest. Citrus rind and lingering bitter finish. Thin body, but that's to be expected in a >4% session IPA. Refreshing and easy drinking. Good stuff.
★ 373 characters
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy yet fairly bright honey golden with a 1.5 finger white crown that shows some retention and loads of lace.
Smell: Light citrus and other tropical notes with hints of smooth noble hopped spiciness. Malt is light, bready, and nothing more than a stage for the hops.
Taste: Much more bitter than I expected a 3.8% session IPA to be. An assertive chinook like hop bitterness with minor grapefruit notes and lots of resin. The bitterness overwhelms the beers flavor to a degree.
Mouthfeel: Thick side of thin bodied with ample carbonation.
Overall: Not sure if the bitterness is being backed up by any astringency (perhaps this is a second runnings beer from Peril?), but it is way bitter which hurts the drinkability and flavor in my opinion. The abv and mouthfeel do help the beers drinkability factor to a degree of course.
Perhaps it's just super fresh and I will like it better in a couple of weeks?
★ 942 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy yet fairly bright honey golden with a 1.5 finger white crown that shows some retention and loads of lace.
Smell: Light citrus and other tropical notes with hints of smooth noble hopped spiciness. Malt is light, bready, and nothing more than a stage for the hops.
Taste: Much more bitter than I expected a 3.8% session IPA to be. An assertive chinook like hop bitterness with minor grapefruit notes and lots of resin. The bitterness overwhelms the beers flavor to a degree.
Mouthfeel: Thick side of thin bodied with ample carbonation.
Overall: Not sure if the bitterness is being backed up by any astringency (perhaps this is a second runnings beer from Peril?), but it is way bitter which hurts the drinkability and flavor in my opinion. The abv and mouthfeel do help the beers drinkability factor to a degree of course.
Perhaps it's just super fresh and I will like it better in a couple of weeks?
★ 942 characters
4.04/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lawsons Spring Fever IPA. Poured from a bottle into a whisky rocks glass.
A: Cloudy golden wheat color, but really good lacing and the head (big at first) settles to form a consistent layer on the top.
S: Pine and loads of hops swarm the nose, a very fresh scent.
T: Malty, not as many hops but some nice lemon and saison zest.
M: Some minor hop notes gives way to a lot of carbonation and the ending becomes a saison flavor.
O: For how low the ABV is this is really amazing. Its not a great example of a saison or an ipa but it stands by itself as a session able “fresh beer”.
★ 581 characters
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lawsons Spring Fever IPA. Poured from a bottle into a whisky rocks glass.
A: Cloudy golden wheat color, but really good lacing and the head (big at first) settles to form a consistent layer on the top.
S: Pine and loads of hops swarm the nose, a very fresh scent.
T: Malty, not as many hops but some nice lemon and saison zest.
M: Some minor hop notes gives way to a lot of carbonation and the ending becomes a saison flavor.
O: For how low the ABV is this is really amazing. Its not a great example of a saison or an ipa but it stands by itself as a session able “fresh beer”.
★ 581 characters
3.99/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
650ml bottle poured into a Lawson's snifter 6/8/2014.
A- slightly hazy copper orange body. One finger white head with above average retention. Thick, sticky rings of lacing are all over the glass when all is said and done. Just about par for the course for a Lawson's IPA.
S- bread, pineapple, tangerines and some floral notes. Not complicated, but this is no shrinking violet in terms of hop aromas.. Reminds me of sniffing hop pellets to be honest.
F- pineapple, floral hop flavours, some citrus mixed in with a fair amount of breadiness. It's not as hop forward as say, Edward, but it is clean, interesting with a nice resinous floral finish.
M- medium bodied, clean, soft and surprisingly resinous. Very crushable and clearly sessionable without any heat, given the low ABV.
O- very good session IPA. I tend to like my IPAs to be hop-forward and aromatic with a creamy, soft mouthfeel, not too bitter. This goes a long way to meetig the bill. As far as VT session IPAs go, I prefer Holy Cow from Alchemist but this is still a very good session IPA that I find myself preferring to the likes of All Day.
★ 1,111 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
650ml bottle poured into a Lawson's snifter 6/8/2014.
A- slightly hazy copper orange body. One finger white head with above average retention. Thick, sticky rings of lacing are all over the glass when all is said and done. Just about par for the course for a Lawson's IPA.
S- bread, pineapple, tangerines and some floral notes. Not complicated, but this is no shrinking violet in terms of hop aromas.. Reminds me of sniffing hop pellets to be honest.
F- pineapple, floral hop flavours, some citrus mixed in with a fair amount of breadiness. It's not as hop forward as say, Edward, but it is clean, interesting with a nice resinous floral finish.
M- medium bodied, clean, soft and surprisingly resinous. Very crushable and clearly sessionable without any heat, given the low ABV.
O- very good session IPA. I tend to like my IPAs to be hop-forward and aromatic with a creamy, soft mouthfeel, not too bitter. This goes a long way to meetig the bill. As far as VT session IPAs go, I prefer Holy Cow from Alchemist but this is still a very good session IPA that I find myself preferring to the likes of All Day.
★ 1,111 characters
3.99/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had this one at Reservoir in Waterbury. From notes.
A - Poured hazy light golden with a thick pillowy white head around one finger. Nice carbonation, spotty chunks of lace, film retention.
S - Lot's of citrus. Passionfruit, orange. Giant citrus bomb.
T - Passionfruit, bright citrus. Some malty sweetness. Mango maybe.
M - Strong carbonation, medium body, mild bitterness.
O/D - A nice light IPA. Tons of juicy hops and very sessionable. The Vermont brewers seem to be doing lot's of the same beers with that characteristic light, sweet, bright hop profile. Seems to be working.
★ 583 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had this one at Reservoir in Waterbury. From notes.
A - Poured hazy light golden with a thick pillowy white head around one finger. Nice carbonation, spotty chunks of lace, film retention.
S - Lot's of citrus. Passionfruit, orange. Giant citrus bomb.
T - Passionfruit, bright citrus. Some malty sweetness. Mango maybe.
M - Strong carbonation, medium body, mild bitterness.
O/D - A nice light IPA. Tons of juicy hops and very sessionable. The Vermont brewers seem to be doing lot's of the same beers with that characteristic light, sweet, bright hop profile. Seems to be working.
★ 583 characters
Spring Fever Session IPA from Lawson's Finest Liquids
4.04
out of 5
based on 278 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Served from a bottle into a pint glass on 6/6/14. My first Lawson's experience. Fresh from Vermont. Excitement is high.
A: A gorgeous, deep orange. Almost luminous. Some chill haze at low tempurtures, but it might just be a hazy brew. Not clean, but without sediment. Yellow/orange head rises and settles nicely at about a finger, it's here to stay. Sticky lacing all over the glass.
S: Oranges and mangos up front. Lots of smooth, inviting hops. Not too much earth, more like fresh cut grass. Bit of malt if you're searching. Reminds me of Jai-Alai but bouncier and cleaner.
T: This is the liquid equivalent of an orange mangrove. Sweet clementines with a bitter citrus finish. Hoppy all throughout but not overpowering at all. Simple, elegant, definitely lives up to its name.
M: Smooth, not creamy. Medium carbonation, but inviting and easy to drink. Completely sessionable. Direct flavors that linger pleasantly. The sip coats your mouth in that characteristic IPA hoppiness without depositing the discouraging taste of broccoli rabe in your throat.
O: One of the best session IPAs I've ever had the honor to drink. Ridiculously good. Summertime baby.
★ 1,160 characters