Frank Rondel
A Vermont brewery is organizing a community gathering this weekend to honor alpine ski racer Paula Moltzan, a native of the Mad River Valley, who is currently competing in the Winter Olympics, reports customreceipt.com via Lawson’s Finest Liquids.
Kelly Putnam from Lawson’s Finest Liquids expressed the brewery’s enthusiasm for Moltzan’s achievements: “We love to celebrate her wins. We love to have a party and there’s been a lot to celebrate lately.” Moltzan has already earned a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics as part of the alpine team combined event with teammate Jackie Wiles. Local supporters in the Mad River Valley plan to gather at Lawson’s taproom early Sunday to watch her compete in the giant slalom.
Last year, the brewery introduced a limited-edition IPA named Paula’s World in honor of Moltzan, and the special brew is returning ahead of the Feb. 15 Paula Moltzan Winter Games Pancake Breakfast. The event will feature local fire departments serving pancakes as a fundraiser.
In a November 2025 interview with NBC5 News at Lawson’s Finest Liquids taproom, prior to leaving for European World Cup competitions, Moltzan shared her appreciation for the community’s support: “The whole community here that works at Lawson’s is super supportive of me. When the idea came together to create Paula’s World last season, I was like, ‘Wait, this is actually happening? Like, they actually like me as an athlete?’” The University of Vermont graduate expressed gratitude for Vermonters’ backing throughout her offseason and the World Cup season leading into the Olympics.
The Paula Moltzan Winter Games Pancake Breakfast will open its doors at 7 a.m. on Feb. 15, ahead of Moltzan’s 7:30 a.m. race. Lawson’s is legally permitted to sell beer starting at 8 a.m., when the brewery will release the small batch of Paula’s World IPA in cans and on draft. Moltzan commented in November: “That would be pretty cool to be drinking a Paula’s World while I’m screaming down the hill. It might be a bit early for a beer because of the six-hour time change to Europe, but I’ll respect it if someone’s drinking one of those while I’m racing.”
Paula’s World will also be available on draft at all three bars of Burke Mountain Resort, including the View Pub inside the Burke Mountain Hotel, during President’s Day weekend. Like at Lawson’s, the limited-edition beer is expected to sell out quickly.
Following her giant slalom race, Moltzan is scheduled to compete in the slalom on Feb. 18, according to the women’s alpine skiing calendar posted on the Olympics website.
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