Lawson's Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine IPA

Beer Name: Sip of Sunshine
Brewery: Lawson's Finest Liquids (Warren, VT; Stratford, CT)
ABV: 8.0%
How sold: 4-packs of 16 oz tallboy cans; on draft
Where bought: Online
Price: Unknown (I bought it as part of a package deal)

Date Canned: May 15, 2017
Date Bought: June 20, 2017
Date Received: June 26, 2017
Date Drank: June 26, 2017
When brewed/released? Year-round beer. This is Lawson's flagship Double IPA.

What's on the Can: "Lawson's Finest Liquids is a small artisanal brewery located in Warren, Vermont, producing an array of hop-forward ales, specialty maple beers and unique creations. Sip of Sunshine IPA is brewed by Lawson’s Finest Liquids at Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford CT. Learn more by visiting lawsonsfinest.com.

"This lupulin-laden 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!"

What's on the Website: "This lupulin-laden 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."

Where distributed: As of June 2017, Lawson's Finest Liquids only distributes in Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Click here to see where!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured slightly hazy dark golden into a pint glass. Appears to have some sediment. Frothy white head, some lacing. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Balanced hoppy, tropical, and slight floral, but tropical takes more the lead role. Malt complements everything. 4.25/5

Taste (40%): Extremely smooth and easy-drinking IPA. Hop-forward, slight dank. Experience quickly turns to tons of tropical, including lemon, grapefruit, and tangerine. Aftertaste features grapefruit bitterness. Drinks far easier than the stated 8% ABV. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, some carbonation. Some dry tongue. Some controlled bitterness lingers; very easy drinking. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): An excellent IPA. Thanks to the online world, I managed to score this coveted beer before my planned New England trip later this summer. Sip of Sunshine is in the traditional Double IPA category, and like Heady Topper and Pliny the Elder, brings that lovely balanced tropical experience that has long been the gold standard of this beer style. Admittedly, at the end of the day, other beers have stamped their identity much better and left a more lasting impression when blindfolded or placed in a blind taste test. Still, I definitely recommend getting this if you're a Double IPA lover. 4.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.438/5