Congratulations are in order for Sean and Karen Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids who this week announced plans to move their extremely successful and popular brewing operation from 280 square feet in Warren to 8,000-plus square feet in Waitsfield.
Pending permitting and other details, their new home will be on Carroll Road where Valley Rent-All is currently located. Congrats are in order for Sean and Karen and their steadfast resolution to grow the business on their terms and their timing.
Too many entrepreneurs yield to the pressure to grow before they are ready. Sean and Karen escaped that pressure. The Lawsons held steady on their course, making growth decisions based on their family and their lives. Their ability to choose their own timing was helped by their Sip of Sunshine brewing partnership with Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut and also by partnering with the Mad River Food Hub for storage and distribution.
That kind of infrastructure is critical to businesses succeeding. Kudos are also in order for Jimmy Kohl of the Valley Rent-All parcel who had the foresight to make sure that sufficient wastewater disposal capability would be on the parcel when the Winter Park community wastewater project was put together.
And thanks for that community waste project go to the town of Waitsfield, the Mad River Valley Planning District, wastewater consultant and ninja Juli Beth Hinds as well as all the funding agencies that created the loans that led to the town having a pot of money to convert to decentralized wastewater systems.
This is a win for Waitsfield and The Valley. To have one of the most sought-after beers in all the land open a brewery in our midst is a huge coup. They’re creating a destination for all that pent up demand and they’re going to showcase local products as well as their award-winning beer.
To have a socially conscious employer stake a claim in Waitsfield and look forward to offering full-time, salaried, year-round employment with living wages and benefits is phenomenal as is their plan to hire local professionals and contractors to plan, renovate and up-fit their new brewery.
“Straight from the Green Mountains to your head.” Congratulations!
