Our Story
Family
Schilling Beer Co. is a modern European-inspired small-batch brewery centered on family, community, and excellence. Founded in 2013 by the Cozzens family and their long-time friend, John Lenzini – Michigan natives who moved to the North Country over 15 years ago – the Schilling name honors the Cozzens’ beloved late grandfather, Dr. R.J. Schilling. It also reflects the continental European experiences and inspirations foundational to the design of our beers and brewery.
About Our Owners
Stuart S. Cozzens is Co-Founder, Director and Managing Partner for Development. Stuart has a BA in business management, an MA in religious studies and a MTh from the University of Aberdeen. When not working on business strategy (or drinking an Alexandr), you can find him enjoying the outdoors with his family, hosting friends for dinner, or reading a book.
John J. Lenzini, Jr is Co-Founder, Director and Technical Director of Brewing Operations. John is directly responsible for the design and production of Schilling's flagship beers, collaborating with Schilling’s talented team of brewers to craft world-class offerings. John is active in the international brewing science community as an author, presenter and international beer judge, including at Munich’s European Beer Star program. John has a BA from Indiana University and a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan. John is married with two sons.
Community
Nestled in the shadow of New Hampshire’s majestic White Mountains, Littleton is the cultural and recreational hub of the North Country. Annually rated as one of the the best small towns in America with a bustling Main Street, this gem of 6,000 residents offers something for everyone: art galleries; funky and unique shops; an emerging River District music scene centered on The Loading Dock; a community mountain biking trail network called PRKR Mountain five quick minutes from the brewery; and the Ammonoosuc River, right behind our brewery, complete with a covered bridge and three species of trout. Throw in four crisp seasons and hiking and skiing minutes from the brewery, and you’ll see upon visiting why we are so proud to live and brew here!
Excellence
Schilling Beer Co. is anchored in an unwavering commitment to excellence—a commitment that is annually recognized internationally by our industry colleagues, loyal customers and guests. We expect this level of performance from ourselves. While grateful for the many awards we’ve won, at the end of the day, the most meaningful metric of success is the smiles worn by our self-critical production team when the liquid meets their standard. Being “world-class” is a fleeting aspiration that keeps us continually striving for more. We hope you taste this commitment in our beers.