Wilhelm
Schilling Beer Company in Littleton, New Hampshire, United States 🇺🇸
Collab with: Goldfinger Brewing CompanyTraditional Beer Series
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Score
7.12
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We’re proud to introduce Wilhelm, the first release in our R.J. Schilling Series: a family of small-batch releases dedicated to our team’s passionate research of, re-imagining, and attempted recreations of historic, lesser-known German beer styles. This series honors a great man whose name is carried by our brewery, Dr. Richard J. Schilling—grandfather, mentor, and “Opa”—and celebrates our enduring passion for the Germanic traditions that inspire us.
The first release from this series is called “Wilhelm” and is appropriately brewed in collaboration with our good friend Tom at @goldfingerbeer in Downers Grove, Illinois—an impeccable lager-focused brewery that also shares deep continental European lineage. A “Helles Alt,” the beer draws inspiration from Vogelsberger Landsbrauereien GmbH’s historic “Urhahn’—an amber-ish colored ale that defies easy categorization, is distinctly drinkable, and is well-suited to pair with the hearty fare of the season.
Wilhelm pours a light copper hue crowned with a tight-knit foam cap, leaving behind intricate lacing on the glass. Aromas of lightly toasted wheat bread, floral hops, and a soft, estery yeast character invite the first sip. Malt-forward yet dry, Wilhelm opens with notes of biscuit and freshly baked bread. Weyermann Vienna malt imparts subtle tones of hazelnut and honey, while German Perle and Hersbrucker hops lend an earthy, herbal balance that carries through to a clean, refined finish.
Wilhelm has deeply personal roots for Schilling beyond being the first beer in the R.J. Schilling Series: The predecessor of Urhahn (the inspiration for Wilhelm) was likely brewed by the Cozzens family’s third-great-grandfather, Heinrich Alfred Wilhelm Fink (1816–1865), who served as braumeister at the Vogelsberger Landsbrauereien GmbH’s original brewery (Auerhahn) in Lauterbach, Germany, in the 19th century.
A beer rooted in history and family, and brewed in friendship, Wilhelm marks the beginning of a series close to our hearts. Now available at our brewery on draught and in cans to go. Prost!
*We wish to acknowledge and thank Hank Fink for his generous contributions of time and research on Heinrich Fink.
The first release from this series is called “Wilhelm” and is appropriately brewed in collaboration with our good friend Tom at @goldfingerbeer in Downers Grove, Illinois—an impeccable lager-focused brewery that also shares deep continental European lineage. A “Helles Alt,” the beer draws inspiration from Vogelsberger Landsbrauereien GmbH’s historic “Urhahn’—an amber-ish colored ale that defies easy categorization, is distinctly drinkable, and is well-suited to pair with the hearty fare of the season.
Wilhelm pours a light copper hue crowned with a tight-knit foam cap, leaving behind intricate lacing on the glass. Aromas of lightly toasted wheat bread, floral hops, and a soft, estery yeast character invite the first sip. Malt-forward yet dry, Wilhelm opens with notes of biscuit and freshly baked bread. Weyermann Vienna malt imparts subtle tones of hazelnut and honey, while German Perle and Hersbrucker hops lend an earthy, herbal balance that carries through to a clean, refined finish.
Wilhelm has deeply personal roots for Schilling beyond being the first beer in the R.J. Schilling Series: The predecessor of Urhahn (the inspiration for Wilhelm) was likely brewed by the Cozzens family’s third-great-grandfather, Heinrich Alfred Wilhelm Fink (1816–1865), who served as braumeister at the Vogelsberger Landsbrauereien GmbH’s original brewery (Auerhahn) in Lauterbach, Germany, in the 19th century.
A beer rooted in history and family, and brewed in friendship, Wilhelm marks the beginning of a series close to our hearts. Now available at our brewery on draught and in cans to go. Prost!
*We wish to acknowledge and thank Hank Fink for his generous contributions of time and research on Heinrich Fink.
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7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
4 oz draft. Thirsty Moose, Exeter New Hampshire. Crystal clear, copper in color. Flavor is dominant in earthy grain, subtle clove and mild caramel-like malt. I don’t get much yeast character in the flavor. Ends on mild hops. Thin body. Ummm. Not what I was expecting for the style.
Disappointed. A rare swing and a miss from this brewery.
Disappointed. A rare swing and a miss from this brewery.
Tried
from Draft
on 11 Apr 2026
at 01:45
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Reviewed from notes.
Can to becher glass.
Appearance: ruddy amber with lighter almost transparent hues along the sides of the glass; the head quickly dissipated and didn't leave any lace.
Aroma: some wet grains, earthy tones, subtle yeasty quality; caramel/toffee character
Flavor: melds the prior noted aromas to a fine sweet to earthy and caramel blend and adds in a little bit of spicy quality; finishes caramelly, earthy and a light spicy touch
Texture: light to medium bodied, some sessionability; sturdy smoothness but also the carb level seemed a bit higher than expected
Overall: enjoyable nonetheless but I wouldn't mind learning more about this cross between an Altbier and a German Helles lager.
Can to becher glass.
Appearance: ruddy amber with lighter almost transparent hues along the sides of the glass; the head quickly dissipated and didn't leave any lace.
Aroma: some wet grains, earthy tones, subtle yeasty quality; caramel/toffee character
Flavor: melds the prior noted aromas to a fine sweet to earthy and caramel blend and adds in a little bit of spicy quality; finishes caramelly, earthy and a light spicy touch
Texture: light to medium bodied, some sessionability; sturdy smoothness but also the carb level seemed a bit higher than expected
Overall: enjoyable nonetheless but I wouldn't mind learning more about this cross between an Altbier and a German Helles lager.
Tried
from Can
on 04 Mar 2026
at 16:21
7.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
4 pack of illegibly-dated cans, most recent one drunk 1/2/26, as pictured.
Toasted grains are prominent, as earthy, and lightly peppery hops give some zesty acidity. A touch yeasty, almost faintly metallic, though some softer, richer caramel character chases this away on the finish.
A bit overcarbonated to start, with very fierce, peppery carbonation exacerbating the toasted grain and peppery and earthy hop blend (a bit odd). Caramel and big bread soften things a bit and there is a reasonable malt depth, though it ends with more hop acid and fairly dry. A bit of an odd one, for sure, and not very Schilling-like. Gets better/softer as the carbonation dies down, but never all that complex or interesting. The hops are just peppery and acidic and the malt rather bready and caramelly.
Toasted grains are prominent, as earthy, and lightly peppery hops give some zesty acidity. A touch yeasty, almost faintly metallic, though some softer, richer caramel character chases this away on the finish.
A bit overcarbonated to start, with very fierce, peppery carbonation exacerbating the toasted grain and peppery and earthy hop blend (a bit odd). Caramel and big bread soften things a bit and there is a reasonable malt depth, though it ends with more hop acid and fairly dry. A bit of an odd one, for sure, and not very Schilling-like. Gets better/softer as the carbonation dies down, but never all that complex or interesting. The hops are just peppery and acidic and the malt rather bready and caramelly.
Tried
from Can
on 02 Jan 2026
at 16:33
7.5/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Pint at Shelter pours a clear amber with two fingers of creamy, thick head. Nose is a bit mild, grist, some dough, nutty, earthy. Flavor is better and clear. Grain, bread, some nuts, a little caramel or treacle. Just off dry and well rounded.
Tried
from Draft
on 20 Dec 2025
at 19:44
7.1/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
Deeper Amber color than a normal lager. Pillowy foam head that dwindles in a few minutes. Nose had some soft water, a bit of wheat to it, n.ot big, but pretty nice. First sip does getting in some sharp hops. A bit of sea salt, more of that slightly different water bill. Very light suggestion of tropical fruit, maybe some Belgian yeast. Couldn't do a side by side with the regular lager, but there is kind of an herbal note to it. Nice lacing all the way down. Yeah, I watch for that.
Tried
from Draft
at
Goldfinger Brewing Company
on 28 Nov 2025
at 21:28