Two Roads Brewery hosted the third of their "Meet the Brewers" events. This one featured the mastermind behind Lawson's Finest Liquids, Sean Lawson.
Two Roads brewery is contracted by Lawson's to brew two beers - Sip of Sunshine and Super Session #2.
It is wicked exciting to me to get the opportunity to be able to get my greedy little hands on some of that fine Lawson's beer without having to make the trek all the way up to Vermont.
I managed to work my way through the throngs of beer enthusiasts and to have a short conversation with Sean. He told me that he found in Two Roads a contract brewery that was true to his recipes and made his beer taste the way it would if he had made it himself. That's quite a compliment!
Sip of Sunshine (8% ABV), a double American style IPA, is a rich honey gold color with a big floof of clingy white foam.
The aroma is very hop-forward. Resin, citrus, and tropical fruit.
The taste is very hoppy. Again with the resin, citrus, and tropical fruit but with a dank quality that clings to the back of the palatte. Some malty sweetness seeps through the back end. The finish is crisp and mildly bitter.
The mouthfeel is on the full side of medium with tingly carbonation. Solid.
Super Session #2 (4.2% ABV), an American IPA, is a clear bright sunny color with a puffy tenacious head.
The aroma is big on citrus - lots of grapefruit - pine, and a hint of malt.
The taste is lovely tart grapefruit and resin. There is a deeper yet almost elusive fruitiness that could be tropical or sweeter citrus. There is a nice malty character to balance out the hops. The finish is clean, dry, with a teasing linger of hops.
The mouthfeel is medium-ish with a smooth effervescence that makes this brew awesomely drinkable.