here’s something surreal about managing a
craft brewery with friends and family in
Littleton.
In the beginning, talk of establishing our own craft brewery was a “wouldn’t it be cool” pipe-dream that took place over campfires on weekend fishing trips in Northern New Hampshire between quaffs of John Lenzini’s ridiculously good beers. Czech dark lagers and Autumn Saisons over the campfire were the norms between bird hunts and jaunts to the riversides, fly-rod in-hand. We’d make plans late into the night, only to return to reality when Monday dawned. There was a point, however, when this chemist’s (Schilling brewmaster, John is a chemist by trade and teaches at St. Johnsbury Academy, VT) brewing zeal intensified to the point of taking over his basement, where we built a professional system over several years. You’ve heard of “Breaking Bad,” this was “Breaking Beer.”
My family and I were obviously thrilled at the thought of a steady stream of Lenzini’s latest German- or Belgian-style libations. We realized that what was once a far-fetched dream had morphed into a concrete vision of what was no longer "someday," but "here and now." After two years of planning, blood and sweat, community encouragement propelled Schilling Beer Co. into a reality—here in Littleton. Consequently, I moved my family from postgraduate studies in Scotland to join in.
After two years of demographic research, we concluded that the historic Grist Mill building in Littleton was the right space. What we could not have predicted was the generosity and support of the North Country. We have been welcomed with open arms, receiving well wishes from local businesses and personal supporters, from care packages and floral arrangements, to handmade bottle openers. These new friends continue to support us day after day. Littleton has only made our desire to champion the local and serve the community grow.
There’s something surreal about managing a budding brewery with friends and family in Littleton. I believe it’s not only because I’m beginning to live my dreams, but also because this community is helping me grow into them. It’s simply a joy to brew great beer—and to do life—here.
Written by Stu Cozzens
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I believe it’s not only because I’m beginning to live my dreams, but also because this community is helping me grow into them.
New Brew on the Block Schilling