By Sean and Karen Lawson
We are pleased to announce that we are in the process of purchasing the property and buildings located at 155 Carroll Road in Waitsfield in the spring of 2017. It is our intention that this will become the new and expanded home of Lawson’s Finest in the Mad River Valley.
While this is an exciting first step, our plans are contingent upon the completion of the Winter Park Community wastewater system as well as obtaining all of the necessary permits from the town of Waitsfield and the state of Vermont to operate a commercial brewery. Our aim is to house a brewery in the existing warehouse building, along with a retail store, tasting room and office in the existing retail building. If the permitting phase is successful and we complete the purchase, we anticipate renovations and equipment installation will take an additional six to 12 months with a potential opening in 2018.
Create a destination for Lawson’s Finest consumers
Our vision is to create a destination for lovers of Lawson’s Finest beer that aligns with both the scale and the character of Waitsfield and the surrounding areas. There is nowhere else in the world where we would rather locate our business than in the community we love, the Mad River Valley. Our goal is to open a modest production brewery that is a visible home for Lawson’s Finest and to create a space that is accessible to the public where people can taste a variety of locally produced artisan foods and beverages.
Enhance year-round tourism in the Mad River Valley
Our hope is to make a substantial contribution to the economic and social vitality of the area. Vermont is already known as one of the world’s premier beer destinations and we would like the Mad River Valley to be one of the must-visit places for beer enthusiasts and tourists. In our first eight years, Lawson’s Finest has evolved as a small home-based business in Warren into a brand recognizable across the country and internationally in the beer industry. We are gratified that the draw for Lawson’s Finest brings people from far and wide to the Mad River Valley. This project will greatly enhance business opportunities for our neighbors and fellow business owners in the local lodging, retail, restaurant, farming and food production sectors by enticing visitors to the Mad River Valley on a year-round basis, which is especially of value during the slow “shoulder” seasons.
Create new livable wage employment opportunities
This project will create a number of salaried, full-time jobs at our new brewery with excellent livable pay rates and benefits. We will also utilize local professionals and contractors in planning, renovating and operating the brewery, with the goal of creating a more sustainable economic future for local residents and business owners.
We are thankful for all of the support and collaboration we have received over the years and plan to continue to invest and give back to the local community in the future. We are excited for the next phase of our journey and look forward to working directly with many of you to make our vision a success.
Sean and Karen Lawson are the proprietors of Lawson’s Finest Liquids.
