Lawson's Finest Liquids CEO and Founding Brewer Sean Lawson Talks Double Sunshine

We spoke with Lawson's Finest Liquids CEO and Founding Brewer Sean Lawson about Double Sunshine.

Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
I developed this recipe early in the trajectory of Lawson’s Finest Liquids, circa 2009. 

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
My favorite aspect of this beer is the punch of tropical aroma and the mélange of juicy tropical flavors (think pineapple, guava, grapefruit) that blend with a beautifully balanced dance of toasty malt sweetness and just enough bitterness to make this beer one of my favorites. 

Where does this beer’s name come from? 
The name comes from the first experimental beer that I brewed with Citra hops. The fruit-forward character and tropical flavors reminded me of chewing Juicy Fruit gum and I contemplated, thinking, “it’s like sipping sunshine….wait, it’s Liquid Sunshine!”  

When I quickly found that name was already trademarked, I changed the recipe to a double IPA, and voila! Double Sunshine was born. 

Is this your “desert island beer?” 
It could be…but I’d have to have some Scrag Mountain Pils to go with it! =) 

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Slightly hazy, lupulin-laden, tropical fruity, balanced and delectable brew. 

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer? 
Double Sunshine IPA is Lawson’s Finest original “home run beer.” When I started out with a one-barrel brewery in 2008, there was not much beer to go around. As people tried and tasted this beer, they spread the word through friends and family, on beer-centric websites online, and through the various beer trading forums. It quickly became the most sought-after beer that Lawson’s Finest makes and led to long lines forming on Thursday mornings at the Warren Store, which is where the 22-ounce bottles were released in the early days.  

One morning, I pulled in to deliver the beer before the Warren Store opened, and there was already a queue out in front. I brought the meager 10 or so cases into the cooler in the back, loaded the handtruck back up in my car, and went to chat with the folks at the head of the line. There were three guys who I asked "Where do you live?" and they said "Chicago! We drove here overnight to buy your beer."  

That absolutely floored, and completely humbled, me. People were traveling from all over the Northeast and beyond on the release days for Double Sunshine. I continued to grow the following for Lawson’s Finest and in 2014 we launched our new flagship, brewed at Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT, which I call the "grand slam” -- Sip of Sunshine IPA -- because it became exponentially even more popular than Double Sunshine, though that was the beer that inspired it.  

Sip of Sunshine is slightly lighter in color and body, and a slightly different blend of hops and malts, but still features Citra hops as the star of the flavor party. 

What's a good food pairing for this beer? 
I love this beer with pizza, spicy Mexican food, and Cabot Clothbound Cheddar. It’s perfectly delicious all by itself though! 

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