CRAFTED

Studio Shed w/ Mike Koenig Nov 20, 2024

Studio Shed was started in the Boulder, Colorado backyard of their co-founder Jeremy Nova, a pro mountain biker and Olympian. Jeremy needed a place to store all his bikes and was uninspired by what was available, so he built his own. Today, Studio Sheds are still built in Colorado, and their portfolio now includes studios, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and commercial spaces. Jeremy built that first shed back in 2008, yet today, many of Studio Shed’s designs still look just like the original.

Sheds and ADUs are a great way to provide extra room for outdoor gear, remote work offices, or additional living spaces. In today’s conversation, we sit down with Studio Shed’s co-founder Mike Koenig to discuss their unique approach to designing and building prefabricated backyard structures that are well-built, eco-friendly, and stylish.

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Studio Shed website: https://www.studio-shed.com/

TOPICS & TIMES:

Riding Bikes and Founding a Company (0:46)

Tokyo Joe's MTB Team (3:51)

Jeremy’s Homemade Shed (6:24)

Panelized Construction (10:25)

The Studio Shed Design Process & Steps to Purchasing a Studio Shed (21:58)

How to DIY Build a Studio Shed (29:40)

Eco-friendly Designs (36:20)

Mike’s Bike (51:46)

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Yu Sasaki on Big-Mountain Skiing, Deep-Powder Skiing, & Running a Successful Food Truck Nov 06, 2024

What are two of the best things in the world? Deep powder skiing and a great food truck. And today, we’re talking about both with professional skier, Yu Sasaki. We also talk about Yu’s beautiful short film, Home From Home; moving from Hokkaido, Japan, to Revelstoke; the ins-and-outs of running a food truck; and more.

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Watch Yu’s Film: Home From Home

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

TOPICS & TIMES:

New Film (2:52)

Japan Origins (5:49)

Food and Canada (7:59)

Food Truck (10:21)

Planning His Menu (15:08)

2 Food Trucks and Ramen (16:27)

Logistics (19:41)

He Skis in the Winter, Staff Runs the Trucks (22:19)

How to Identify Good Food Trucks (25:24)

Ten Minute Timeline (29:23)

Favorite Food Trucks (31:00)

Craft Obsessions and Freeride Coaching (33:05)

Upcoming Ski Season (36:03)

Closing (38:21)

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Diner Coffee, Sour Beers, Well-Done Steaks, Putting Greens, & Brand Building with Alex LeBlanc of Calibration Coffee Lab Oct 30, 2024

Last year, we talked with Alex LeBlanc about starting Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina (CRAFTED ep #26). Today, Alex is back to update us on how it’s going, what he’s been learning, how his thinking about coffee has evolved, and how he’s going about trying to build a brand that people will love.

And if you’d like to check out Alex’s coffee, CRAFTED listeners can get 15% off by using the code BLISTER at calibrationcoffeelab.com

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CRAFTED ep #26: Calibration Coffee Lab

TOPICS & TIMES:

Backstory of Calibration Coffee Lab (2:53)

3rd Wave Coffee (9:32)

1st & 2nd Crack (14:18)

Alex’s Philosophy of Roasting (16:46)

Espresso (19:30)

Roasting Temperature & Airflow (25:47)

Catering to Customers’ Tastes (27:06)

Coffee, Wine, & Beer Comparisons (33:08)

‘Single Origin’ Coffees vs Blends (35:10)

How Long to “Rest” after Roasting (36:53)

Natural vs Washed (45:48)

Brand Building (51:03)

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Wayfarer Vans w/ Andy Mullins Oct 16, 2024

Camper vans seem to be everywhere these days, and for good reason — the level of versatility and convenience they offer is hard to ignore. But starting down the road of ownership can be extremely overwhelming, so in today’s conversation, we sit down with Wayfarer Van’s Andy Mullins to answer some of the common questions people have, and to get an inside look at Wayfarer Van’s unique approach to building camper vans.

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Wayfarer Vans website: https://wayfarervans.com/blisterreview

Wayfarer Vans Fans Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/364625700977150

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/wayfarervans

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfarervans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayfarervans

TOPICS & TIMES:

How Wayfarer Got Started (3:03)

Wayfarer Founder is Good at Bikes (4:14)

Why Modular? (5:33)

Fast Turnarounds (11:09)

Good Wood (13:12)

Ford vs Ram (18:09)

Low Roof or High Roof (22:47)

First Steps to First Van (27:23)

How Wayfarer KeepsThem Affordable (29:34)

To DIY or NOT (34:15)

Let’s go Camping (41:31)

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Chef Mark Connell on Craft & Trust; Tasting Menus; & Olive Oil Candy (Part 2) Sep 04, 2024

Mark Connell is the executive chef at PARC Aspen, and he’s back to talk about fine dining and the importance of tasting menus; what he learned at Alinea; the specific tasting menu Jonathan recently had at PARC Aspen (including what Mark put on the plate & why); the difference between striving for consistency vs. striving to be consistently good; and more.

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Fine Dining & Tasting Menus (1:58)

Alinea: what Mark Learned There (9:46)

PARC Aspen (16:42)

Tasting Menu: what Jonathan had at PARC Aspen (23:59)

Goat Cheese Sorbet & Olive Oil Candy (31:26)

Consistency vs Being Consistently Good (47:46)

Craft & Trust (56:17)

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Chef Mark Connell on Skiing & High-End Cuisine (Part 1) Aug 28, 2024

“My whole goal in life was to be a ski bum and a chef.” For Mark Connell, the executive chef at PARC Aspen, we can definitely say: mission accomplished. Mark is a passionate skier and a culinary genius, and we discuss how Mark & Jonathan first met; Mark’s background and his time working at The French Laundry; what punk rock has to do with high-end cuisine; frozen pizza; white wine; celebrity chefs; & more.

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TOPICS & TIMES:

How Mark & Jonathan Met (3:53)

Mark’s Background (9:33)

Punk Rock & High-End Cuisine? (22:08)

The French Laundry (37:50)

Italy (40:43)

Celebrity Chefs (46:04)

Palettes (53:25)

Frozen Pizza (1:06:20)

Wine (1:11:38)

Junk Food & Topics for ‘Part 2’ (1:21:37)

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How to Design (and Own) a Well-Crafted, Affordable Home, with Zack Giffin Jul 17, 2024

These days, owning a beautiful home is often prohibitively expensive, while “affordable” housing too often fails to include quality craftsmanship. But there is a solution, and today, Zack Giffin remindsus of this fact and discusses the craft of designing smaller structures that address our trueneeds. This is a conversation where design and philosophy come together in a big way, as does the art of fostering real communities and constructing vibrant towns.

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Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Blister Podcast Ep.275: Zack Giffin

TOPICS & TIMES:

Zack’s background (3:48)

Why are smaller houses controversial? (9:05)

Construction & Craft (21:20)

Renting vs Owning + Rules of the Road (32:36)

Designing a Tiny Home for Jonathan (37:17)

Strangest Build Request? (58:40)

Where Should People Find Out More? (1:00:21)

Current State of Prohibitions (1:04:18)

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The Vinyl Revival, Records, & Turntables w/ Michael Fremer Jul 10, 2024

In this episode, we get a crash course on the vinyl revival and why spinning records on a turntable is a more engaging way of listening to music. Our guest, Michael Fremer, is regarded as one of the premier experts in the audio field, and he's extremely passionate about it. Michael and Simon get into how Led Zeppelin II was made, why Howard Stern hates vinyl, how to go about buying your first turntable, the travesty of “smashed” music, turntables that cost as much as a house, and tons more.

RELATED LINKS

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Records Just Sound Better (3:11)

The Vinyl Revival (7:16)

Michael’s Today Show appearance (8:08)

What’s A Pressing? (11:11)

Record Store Days (14:22)

Turntables (21:11)

Michael’s First Turntable (24:34)

A Turntable As Expensive As A House (25:46)

Quincy jones and Michael Jackson (27:34)

Turntables Are Vibrations Measuring Devices (30:16)

Phono Preamps (33:41)

Choosing Records (40:57)

“Smashing” Ruins Good Recordings (43:04)

Bob Ludwig’s Cut Of Led Zeppelin II (46:52)

How To Really Listen To Music (54:04)

Current Vinyl Sales (1:06:46)

Michael’s Two Records (1:08:09)

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Sage Cattabriga-Alosa on Pizza Making & Big-Mountain Skiing Jul 04, 2024

One of the greatest big-mountain skiers of all time is also seriously passionate about making great pizza. So what’s the story here, and what do pizza and skiing have in common? What has Sage learned about the art of making dough and sauce? And what do you need to know to start making great pizza yourself? We cover all of this, plus Sage’s most recent trip to Alaska.

RELATED LINKS

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Blister Pod #41: Sage on Skiing Spines

Blister Pod #270: Angel Collinson / Sage’s Pizza

TOPICS & TIMES:

Pizza & Skiing (5:58)

Outdoor Pizza Ovens (15:00)

Pizza Team (18:14)

Pizza & Espresso (21:08)

Outdoor Pizza Ovens, Part 2 (23:25)

Angel’s Story of Sage's Pizza (37:31)

Sage’s Most Recent Trip to AK (43:15)

Pizza 101: Getting Started (54:40)

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La Marzocco Product Designer, Stefano Della Pietra Jun 26, 2024

La Marzocco is the most iconic espresso-machine maker in the world, and last month, Jonathan went to the La Marzocco Accademia to talk with their head product designer, Stefano Della Pietra, about the history and core principles of the company; how he became the head of product design there; and the task of taking La Marzocco into the future while staying true to the brand’s storied past.

RELATED LINKS

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Accademia del Caffe Espresso

Innovation (5:39)

Avoiding Fads (14:12)

How Did You Get Your Position? (16:43)

Lina Micra & Mini (20:28)

Other Areas of Design Inspiration (25:12)

Espresso Machines & Watches (27:48)

Officine Fratelli Bambi (30:08)

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Coffee Gear, Pt. 4: “Hero Espresso” & Jonathan’s Current Setup Jun 19, 2024

After much deliberation, we’re revealing the machine that Jonathan ended up going with on his quest to create daily doses of “hero espresso” — a phrase coined at the end of this conversation. Simon Stewart joins Jonathan for all the glorious, dorky details, and they also discuss decaf coffee & N/A beer; the price of a thing vs. the amount of joy it brings; mtn bikes vs. espresso machines; & more.

RELATED LINKS

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Tea?? (4:36)

PSA: Great Coffee can be Cheap (6:15)

Origins of JE's Obsession (9:57)

E61 vs. Saturated Group Head (15:37)

JE's La Marzocco Linea Micra (26:38)

Beans (31:45)

Other Machines JE Considered (36:38)

Microfoam, Cortados, & Macchiatos (39:33)

Decaf Coffee & N/A Beer (45:16)

Manual Machines & Simon’s Quest (52:37)

Weighing Beans (1:03:52)

Cost & the Economics of this Setup (1:08:39)

Florence, Italy (1:15:31)

Hero Espresso (1:20:51)

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JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, on Tea, Trust, & the Art of Loving Anything Jun 12, 2024

Jonathan Ellsworth was recently at JING Tea headquarters in London for another CRAFTED conversation with JING founder, Ed Eisler. After a proper tea tasting, they sat down to discuss all things tea (and skis); agriculture as art; and the qualities of a great tea.

RELATED LINKS

CRAFTED ep. 23 w/ JING’s Ed Eisler

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Coffee, Tea, & Skis (5:12)

Curiosity (12:41)

Standards (21:47)

Buying Local (25:49)

Principles & Sourcing Tea (30:26)

Going Forward (32:13)

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Cast-Iron Cookware w/ Blister reviewer, Simon Stewart Jan 31, 2024

Today we are discussing a product that people get very passionate about — and even more opinionated about: cast-iron cookware. Jonathan is joined by Blister senior bike editor, Simon Stewart, who has been using cast-iron cookware for more than twenty years, but is now on a quest to see if the fancier, more expensive options out there are better than their cheaper counterparts. We also discuss the notion of ‘elevating the everyday’; cast-iron cookware as heirlooms; the introduction of new tech; the return of old tech; and more.

RELATED LINKS

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Why are we talking about cast iron cookware (2:57)

Defining "Nicer" (9:26)

Amatuer Hour PA (13:25)

Price Ranges (15:28)

Rape Seed Oil Sanding (21:20)

Why Cast Iron and the Obsession (23:53)

Current Landscape of Cast Iron (27:57)

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WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, on the Benefits, Culture, & Craft of Saunas Jan 17, 2024

WNDR Alpine founder, Matt Sterbenz, aka, the ‘Sauna Shaman’, talks about how Hoji kicked off his obsession with saunas; their numerous benefits; and lays out what it takes (and costs) to build your own sauna. (On our site, you can check out a bunch of photos of the sauna that Matt built. It’s sweet.)

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TOPICS & TIMES:

Defining Terms (8:59)

The cold plunge trick (25:15)

Heart and inflammation (27:19)

hot tub vs sauna (29:42)

planning a sauna and costs (31:17)

Temperatures (43:14)

Sauna Enthusiasm and becoming a Shaman (48:30)

Infrared (51:57)

Wrap Up (55:02)

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Our Reviewers’ 2023 Craft Obsessions & 2024 Curiosities Dec 28, 2023

To wrap up the year, we are sharing the craft categories that most captivated our Blister reviewers in 2023, and some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2024. This is a fun one, and it certainly fills out the picture of the people behind our reviews, videos, articles, podcasts, and Blister Summit events.

And over on our Blister Podcast, you’ll also get to hear our team talk about their highlights of 2023, and their resolutions for 2024. Happy New Year!

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TOPICS & TIMES:

1: Luke Kopppa (2:11)

2: Dylan Wood (13:49)

3: Simon Stewart (26:17)

4: Kara Williard (36:56)

5: Jonathan Ellsworth (45:33)

6: Eric Freson (56:59)

7: Sascha Anastas (1:10:42)

8: Kristin Sinnott (1:18:28)

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Shaking Up the Wine World: Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro Dec 20, 2023

Over 30 billion bottles of wine are consumed each year around the world, and today, we’re talking about why we need to — and can — move away from ‘business as usual’ in the wine world. Our guest is Revelshine founder, Jake Bilbro, and Jake lays out some fascinating, rarely discussed facts about the impacts of the wine industry; his mission to change that; and why the likes of Jeremy Jones, Shane Dorian, Selema Masakala, Michelle Parker, Tanner Gudauskas, Patrick Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, Chris Davenport, Emily Harrington, Drew Holcomb, Vasu Sojitra, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Adrian Ballinger have all signed up to push this mission forward.

RELATED LINKS

Revelshine Wines

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Join Us! Become a BLISTER+ Member

TOPICS & TIMES:

Special Offer on Revelshine: (2:43)

Jake’s Background in the Wine World (4:30)

Limerick Lane & Starting Revelshine (6:30)

Assessing Our Impacts on the World (33:25)

Other Benefits of Shaking Things Up (40:54)

The Juice: Revelshine’s Offerings (48:24)

‘BLISTERSHIP’, Distribution, & purchasing (59:45)

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Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Arrows Nov 22, 2023

Last year on CRAFTED, we talked with Blister reviewer, Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows (episode #8). And this is the companion conversation to that episode, about the art of making arrows.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Kodiak Island (5:29)

Only a Traditional Bow (11:10)

Arrows: An Amateur's Take (14:42)r

Relating Arrow's to Skis (28:39)

Feathers: Weights, Forces, and Angles (34:10)

Broadheads (44:17)

Price Range (52:07)

Summary of arrows (54:49)

Arrow Makers (57:54)

Beginner arrows vs advanced Arrows (1:00:19)

Art and Science of Arrows (1:04:10)

RELATED LINKS

Check out the Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

CRAFTED ep. 8 on Traditional Bows

Blister Pod ep. 287 on Broadening the Outdoor Community

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Bag Balm President, Libby Parent, on the Origins & Surprising Evolution of a 125-Year-Old American Company Nov 15, 2023

Based in Vermont — where they still make their products — Bag Balm is an American company with a 125-year history and one very remarkable story. Bag Balm’s president, Libby Parent, joins us to talk about cow udders, celebrity endorsements, and the countless uses of their products, and you’ll also get a great lesson on how to steward a company with such a rich history into the modern world.

TOPICS & TIMES:

From Cow Udders to Celebrity Endorsements (2:38)

BLISTER & Bag Balm & Strange Uses (20:04)

Changes to the Formula (24:34)

Made in Vermont (27:36)

Marketing Product Uses & Discovering New Ones (31:01)

Bar Soap & (Serious) Exfoliation (35:08)

Stewarding a 125-Yr-Old Heritage Brand (40:08)

Most Common Uses & Emotional Support Chickens (47:36)

How Libby’s Background Informs Her Work at Bag Balm (53:33)

RELATED LINKS

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

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Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan, on Building a Premium, Affordable, & Ethical Apparel Manufacturing Company in Chicago Sep 13, 2023

Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan is a thoughtful guy with some grand ambitions. He’s working on building a big apparel company that ethically manufactures premium products at an affordable price, right in Chicago. Impossible you say? This past Monday, Jonathan Ellsworth met up with Rob at Dearborn Denim’s factory in Chicago to tour the factory with him, then record this conversation where he lays out the blueprint.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Why Rob started Dearborn Denim (2:47)

Profitability vs Mission/Ethics (7:25)

Why Chicago for Apparel Manufacturing? (13:38)

Misconceptions about US Manufacturing (18:46)

‘Made in the USA’ Debate & Shopping Local (22:11)

Cost (28:33)

Solving for Fit & Advertising Challenges (33:39)

Premium -- but Affordable?? -- Products (38:03)

Growth & Scale (41:11)

Materials & Fabrics: What Should We Know? (49:46)

New Products & Contract Work (56:08)

RELATED LINKS

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

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Chef Yia Vang on Hmong Cuisine & Culture; 'Run & Gun' Restauranteering; & Spreading Appreciation Aug 23, 2023

Yia Vang is a multi-nominated James Beard Award chef; the founder & head chef of Union Hmong Kitchen, and he’s carved out time to compete on the Netflix show, “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend,” host the show, ”Feral” on the Outdoors Channel, host another show, “Stoked” on the Food Network, and host the excellent podcast,“Hmonglish” which focuses on the Hmong people, their culture, representation, and Asian excellence overall.

Yia and Jonathan discuss all of the above, plus his ‘run & gun’ approach to running a restaurant; the history of the service and sacrifices made by many Hmong people on behalf of the USA; patriotism; curiosity; football; the art of Hmong cuisine; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Managing Restaurants, Flexibility, & Football (8:29)

Current State of Food Culture in the USA (22:16)

Being Anti "Fusion" (28:01)

Hmong / US History (34:02)

Hmong Cuisine & Hmong Clans (46:41)

The Craft of Hmong Cuisine (51:46)

Past, Current, & Future Projects (56:20)

RELATED LINKS

Hmonglish Podcast

Union Hmong Kitchen

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

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Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 3) Aug 09, 2023

How do you define “consistency” — the ability to produce the exact same thing time & time again? Or producing a product that is never exactly the same, but is always of high quality? That question is at the heart of this conversation about official offerings vs independent bottlings, but Matt and Jonathan also find time to talk about Scotch and spit buckets; Matt’s current top-3 ‘hottest’ Scotch brands; the short lifespans of humans vs the long lifespans of craft categories; upcoming ski trips to Japan (Blister members, listen up); and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Peated Scotch & Spit Buckets (3:18)

Signatory, Edradour, & Independent Bottling Co’s (6:41)

Matt’s Top-3 ‘Hottest’ Scotch Producers (14:22)

Country-Specific Offerings: Scotch & Skis (21:38)

Blister Members: want to go to Japan? (26:15)

“Consistency,” Quality, & “Craft” (29:00)

Sherry (43:49)

The Short Lives of Humans & Craft Products (49:45)

Cheese, Gin, & Maple Syrup (56:22)

Fair Warning: Things Get Loose. Stop Listening? (1:01:30)

Austrian Food Review (1:01:35)

Arran 10, Arran 18, & Tamdhu 15 (1:09:54)

Drunken Blister Summit Offer & Ramblings (1:19:52)

RELATED LINKS

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1

CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 2

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Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 2) Aug 02, 2023

Matt Manser (Atomic Ski Boots), is back to dive into the world of Scotch and independent bottlings. He and Jonathan compare a Bunnahabhain independent bottling against their official 12-year offering; discuss a single cask that cost $19M; debate whether you should add water to your Scotch; learn about the fanciest bottle Matt currently owns; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

What does a ski boot designer do in the summer? (4:10)

Recapping our first Scotch conversation (10:08)

What’s Your Fanciest & Favorite Bottle You Own? (13:23)

Red Cask (16:55)

Barrel & Cask Talk — plus a $19M cask (19:34)

Time to start sipping! (23:56)

Independent Bottlings (26:24)

Adding / Not Adding Water to Scotch (30:46)

Oban 14 (37:55)

Back to Independent Bottlings (41:44)

First Sip: Bunnahabhain 12 & the Magic Spoon (51:13)

Bandaids & American Oak vs European Oak (55:16)

Letting Your Pour Rest (58:50)

Production volumes of Various Producers (1:06:25)

More on Red Cask (1:11:39)

RELATED LINKS

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1

CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 3

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Assessing Greatness: The Art & Craft of Tennis, Great Sports Writing, & Top 5 Lists Jul 12, 2023

Today’s conversation explores the broader question of how to assess greatness? To get there, Jonathan Ellsworth and Troy Russ discuss the art & craft of tennis (and whether it is the greatest of all sports?); the art & craft of great sports writing (and whether David Foster Wallace’s essay, Roger Federer as Religious Experience is the pinnacle of the form?); and finally, we discuss Troy’s Top 5 All-Time Tennis Players, which leads us back into the big question of how to think about assessing greatness in any sport.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Troy’s Tennis Background & Playing Andre Agassi (5:59)

Tennis — the Greatest Sport? (9:07)

David Foster Wallace: Roger Federer as Religious Experience (18:40)

Watching Tennis on TV vs In-Person (25:32)

Troy’s Top 5 Men’s Tennis Players (29:56)

Troy’s Top 5 Women’s Tennis Players (49:55)

Plot Twist: Re-Ranking the Top 5 (55:49)

RELATED LINKS

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

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Paradigm Winery’s Marilyn Harris on Napa Valley & the Making of a Modern Wine Mecca Jun 28, 2023

Today, Napa Valley is home to some of the most respected wineries and coveted wines being produced, but not too long ago, it was a sleepy farm community. So in this conversation, Jonathan talks with Marilyn Harris of Paradigm Winery about how Napa … became Napa. Marilyn and her husband, Ren, own Paradigm Winery in Oakville, CA, and they’ve had a front-row seat — and played a first-hand role — in the evolution of Napa Valley.

TOPICS & TIMES:

How I met Marilyn & her lifelong history in Napa (2:19)

When did winemaking start in Napa? (11:33)

Importance of 40-acre lots in Napa (17:03)

Zinfandel (18:07)

Napa & Cabernet Sauvignon (22:46)

Cult Wines & Organic Grapes (24:59)

Scale & Growth (27:28)

Paradigm’s Paravines Red Wine & Rosé (29:00)

Climate Change & Napa Wine (34:20)

Pringles (38:22)

Monday Morning Calls (40:13)

The Business of Paradigm & Where to Find It (42:31)

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Green Beans, Pendulum Swings, & First Crack w/ Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer Jun 21, 2023

Last week, Jonathan headed to The Crown in Oakland, California, which is the Coffee Lab and Tasting Room of Royal Coffee. He was there to sample experimental coffee drinks, meet with Royal Coffee CEO, Max Nicholas-Fulmer — whose favorite ski is the Moment Blister Pro — and to discuss the world of specialty “green” (not-yet-roasted) coffee.

Max and Jonathan discuss the history of changing coffee preferences; the business of importing green beans; the stages of roasting coffee (do you know about first crack and second crack?); current trends; and how Royal Crown is encouraging home roasting with The Crown Jewel.

Royal Coffee is a very impressive operation; The Crown is a place that any coffee lover ought to check out; and this conversation covers fascinating but less-well-known aspects of coffee.

TOPICS & TIMES:

The BLISTER Pro: Bringing People Together (2:55)

Royal Coffee: the Family Business (11:47)

Max’s Background (15:12)

Green Beans & Dark vs. Light Roasts (16:23)

First Crack: Caramelization (26:38)

Second Crack: Carbonization (30:55)

How Altitude Affects Coffee Beans (32:27)

Processing Methods (38:00)

Coffee Fermentation & Wet Mills (44:42)

Geographic Trends & Geisha (46:55)

The Crown Jewel & Home Roasting (52:14 )

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Rum Rules: Montanya Distillers’ Karen Hoskin Jun 14, 2023

Today we’re discussing the rules of rum with Karen Hoskin, founder of Montanya Distillers, which produces some of the best rum in the country — right here in Crested Butte, Colorado.

If you’re someone who hasn’t been all that into rum, this conversation will shed light on why you might have felt that way; explain why Karen doesn’t make Montanya’s rum the way that a lot of mainstream rum is produced; and is a pretty amazing crash course in the history of rum, rum culture, the longstanding tradition of “mountain rum”, and more.

As you’ll hear, Karen not only has a lot of conviction about her own rules for rum making, but she has a number of deeply held principles that extend well beyond the craft of exceptional rum-making.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Turning Point: Dec 23, 1988 (3:25)

Rum in the 2000's (8:55)

Ways of Making Rum (13:28)

Rum & Louisiana Sugar Cane (20:47)

Laws for US Sugar Cane (29:42)

Why Distill in Colorado? (32:32)

Advertising Rum & Environmental Concerns (36:46)

Challenges of Making Great Rum (40:31)

Montanya’s One-of-a-Kind Stil (44:04)

Aging & Barreling (50:46)

Montanya’s Staple Rums (58:31)

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Bravus Brewing Company: Elevating NA Beer May 31, 2023

Not all beer is created equal, and that certainly goes for NA beer, too. So what’s the secret? Bravus Brewing Company has been making some of the very best NA beer out there, so I headed to Bravus’ headquarters in Anaheim, CA, to meet up with Bravus founder, Philip Brandes. We talked about what led Philip to start a non-alcoholic craft brewery back in 2015; what Philip regards as some of the better - and worse - ways of making craft NA beer; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

The NA Beer Space Today (5:26)
What Led Philip to Start Bravus? (8:30)
How to Make Great NA Beer (19:12)
Heat & Yeast (25:51)
The Current NA Market (33:00)
Bravus’ Lineup of Beers (40:27)
Anaheim, CA (48:08)

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Adventures in HomeBrewing, Distilling, & Coffee Roasting + the Launch of Calibration Coffee Lab May 24, 2023

Before Alex LeBlanc started Calibration Coffee Lab in Greenville, South Carolina, he was a mechanical engineer by trade, a home brewer, a home distiller, and a home coffee roaster. So what led him to leave the world of engineering to start Calibration Coffee Lab, and roast beans for a living? And how did he go about doing it? This conversation is about the process of turning your passion into a business, and the process of creating some very good roasts, too.

Want to try some Calibration coffee? Check out the following deals:

Use the code Blister for 15% off your first order
Use the code COFFEELOVE to get $10 off of your first subscription
Sign up for their email list to get 15% off of your first order of non-subscription coffee.

TOPICS & TIMES:

1st, 2nd, & 3rd Wave Coffee (2:44)
Home Brewing (6:15)
Home Roasting (18:44)
Alex’s Engineering Background (22:13)
Roasting Preferences (28:31)
The Engineering & the Art of Roasting (30:10)
Why Start a Roasting Company? (34:42)
Beans & Blends (51:23)
Farmers Markets & Where to Purchase (1:01:04)

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Drinking Gold: Coffee Gear, Pt. 3, with ON3P Skis' founder, Scott Andrus May 17, 2023

ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is back on CRAFTED to go deep into the weeds about the various gear options out there to make great coffee and espresso. We discuss the very inexpensive options; $1000 coffee grinders; Scott’s mind-blowing “Coffee Checklist for Jonathan”; and more. It’s an amazing, slightly terrifying, definitely fun conversation about Drinking Gold and the gear used to make it.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Affordable Options (4:49)
Pour Over Options (6:34)
The Confusing World of New Coffee (9:34)
Coffee Grinders (How Many Do You Need??) (16:57)
Jonathan’s ‘No-Prep Lifestyle’ (28:44)
The Great Milk Debate (Dual vs Single Boiler) (32:00)
Scott’s “Coffee Checklist for Jonathan” (46:23)
Temperature Stability & Consistent Pucks (53:13)
Scales on Scales on Scales (53:13)
“We’re gonna Spray the Stupid Beans” (1:01:17)
Water Considerations (1:05:58)
Jonathan’s Coffee Timeline (1:09:28)
Is All of This Worth It? (1:11:57)

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Guitars & Guitar Making with Fretboard Journal’s Jason Verlinde May 11, 2023

Today we’re talking all things guitars and guitar making with a fantastic guide to this world, Jason Verlinde, publisher of the Fretboard Journal. Jason and Jonathan discuss how and where guitars are being made; boutique vs. mass market brands; who is pushing innovation; guitar quivers; the greatest guitarists ever; and (much to Jonathan’s delight) Blind Willie McTell.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Gear Nerdery & Vintage Amps (4:44)

Fretboard Journal (6:38)

Loving Guitars, but not Guitar Media (8:05)

How & When Jason got into Guitars (11:34)

Current Interest in Guitars (14:12)

How do people get into playing? (17:01)

Ukuleles (20:14)

Boutique vs Mass Market Brands (25:56)

History of Guitar Making (31:27)

Rock & Roll Changed Everything (39:09)

Craft of Manufacturing (42:12)

Performance & Guitar Quivers (44:58)

Who is Pushing Innovation & How? (51:04)

Prices / Price Ranges (1:00:47)

Jason's Guitar Heroes (1:07:38)

Best Guitarists Ever (1:10:03)

Check out Fretboard Journal (1:18:43)

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Tea: Origins, Trends, & State of the Union with JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler Apr 12, 2023

Jonathan talks to JING Tea founder, Ed Eisler, about the origins, production, and culture of tea; “Duckshit” tea; what goes into making an exceptional cup of tea; the pros and cons of coffee vs tea; trends in the tea world, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Starting JING (5:47)

Single Malt & Craft Tea (16:08)

Coffee vs Tea (20:25)

Caffeine & Flavor (33:10)

Milk in Tea? The Debate (39:30)

What Makes Great Tea Leaves? (43:47)

Trends & State Of The Union (47:51)

Brewing Tea (57:43)

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Beer Collabs: A Love Story (New Image Brewing x Offset Bier Co) Apr 05, 2023

Why are there so many collabs in the craft beer world? We talk to Offset Bier co-founder, Conor Brown, and New Image Brewing founder, Brandon Capps, for answers, and also about the new collabs they’ve just released; “New World” or “West Coast” pilsners; snooty bike shops; skiing pow; barley wine; & more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Offset Bier (4:40)
New Image Brewing (6:51)
Why So Many Beer Collabs? (8:27)
Historic / Favorite Collabs? (12:43)
How Conor & Brendan Met (15:04)
Skiing Powder (17:06)
Offset & New Image Collab (19:52)
Blizzard of Haaaaappps and The Guest Experience: Decapitator (26:17)
“New World” or “West Coast” Pilsner (33:33)
Barley Wine (44:51)
Where is Craft Beer Headed? (48:43)
Where to Find Offset x New Image Collabs? (1:03:34)
Beer Vacation in Germany (1:07:11)

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Our Other Podcasts with Brandon & Connor:
CRAFTED ep 15: Art, Gear, & Beer
CRAFTED ep 03: Offset Bier, Origins & Ethos
CRAFTED ep 01: New Image Brewing

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Artist Geoff McFetridge on 'Return to Stoner Forest,' Bigfoot, Collabs, & More Mar 01, 2023

The artist & designer Geoff McFetridge came to CB to pay us a visit, and in this conversation, he & Jonathan discuss his current show in LA, Return to Stoner Forest; culture & commerce; Geoff’s approach to collaborations; the new film, ‘Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life,’ & more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

The Morning Show from CB (5:04)
Geoff’s Show: Return To Stoner Forest (8:20)
Bigfoot (23:51)
Interpreting Art (33:52)
Culture & Commerce, Apple Watch & Hermès (39:51)
Geoff’s Approach to Collabs (52:04)
Revisiting 20+ Years of Work: Takeaways & Patterns? (59:03)
New Film: Geoff McFetridge, Drawing a Life (59:03)
Thoughts on the movie, Tár (1:05:50)

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Blister Craft Collective
Geoff’s site: championdontstop.com
Our Other Podcasts with Geoff:
Blister Podcast ep 249 (2.27.23)
Art & the Outdoor Industry (10.19.21)
Blister Podcast ep 129 (5.18.20)
GEAR:30 ep 95: Telemark Ski Gear (4.10.20)
Blister Podcast ep 125: How to Tele (4.6.20)
Blister Podcast ep 116 (1.14.20)

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In Search of the 'Best' Coffee Gear (& Ski Boots), Pt. 2: Sam Higby, First Ascent Coffee Roasters Feb 08, 2023

Sam Higby, co-owner of First Ascent Coffee Roasters, joins Jonathan to talk pour overs, grinders, brewing at altitude, programmability, and more. Listen up, then let us know what your pick is for the best coffee-making setup out there.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Sam’s Coffee Background (4:03)
Why Coffee Gear Conversations Matter (12:17)
Brevilles, MoccaMasters, & 3rd-Wave Coffee (13:39)
Pour Overs(21:12)
Time Management & Bean Justice (28:00)
Grinders & Price Points (38:48)
The Curse of Good Coffee (46:11)
Altitude & Pre-Infusion (52:31)
Programmability: La Marzocco & Breville (57:09)
Final Thoughts on JE's Coffee Future (1:03:18)

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In Search of the ‘Best’ Coffee Gear, Pt. 1: Andrew Gardner, Coffee "Enthusiast" Feb 02, 2023

What’s the best way to make coffee? Very strong opinions abound, and Jonathan is currently caught up in trying to figure out the right answer for himself; so he’s recruiting some friends and experts to help. First up is Andrew Gardner. They talk about coffee and life priorities; coffee and cycling culture; how to think about the cost vs the quality of coffee-making equipment; and whether Jonathan should keep or return this new Breville semi-automatic espresso maker that’s sitting in an unopened box at his house. Listen up, then let us know what you think Jonathan should do — and what coffee gear he should get.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Andrew justifies this conversation (7:06)
Coffee “Enthusiasm” & Cycling Coffee Culture (8:10)
Coffee & Life Priorities (12:20)
Coffee Gear & Other Gear (15:05)
New Espresso / 3rd-Wave Espresso (22:47)
Correlating Cost & Quality of Coffee Gear (24:56)
Andrew’s Morning Coffee Routine (28:38)
Breville Debate & "Good" Coffee (30:28)
Coffee Prep Variation (36:57)
Grinders (43:46)
JE's Coffee-Curious Future (50:58)
Best Entry Point for Espresso (56:22)

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Amateur Hour: BLISTER founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, on Watches Jan 25, 2023

Today on CRAFTED, our podcast producer extraordinaire, the Strikingly Handsome Justin Bobb, is talking about watches with Jonathan Ellsworth for our latest edition of Amateur Hour. You’ll hear what caused Jonathan to stop ignoring timepieces and start appreciating the craftsmanship of this category; watches vs. outdoor gear; why he thinks watches are particularly important and interesting today; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

"Horology" (2:59)
'Mechanical / Automatic' vs. 'Quartz' (6:43)
Why Watches? (11:24)
The Weird World of Watches (25:42)
Ski World vs. Watch World (32:16)
Vintage Watches (35:46)
Jonathan’s Watch Collection (38:57)
Brands He's Intrigued By? (59:10)
What’s Still to Explore (1:01:49)
The Future of Watch Making (1:03:03)

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Amateur Hour: Atomic's Matt Manser on Scotch (Part 1) Dec 21, 2022

When Atomic Ski Boots Product Manager, Matt Manser, isn’t nerding out about ski boots … he’s nerding out about Scotch. And in this conversation, Matt and Jonathan discuss butt casks and blood tubs; why cask size matters; barrel-aged ski boots; tea spoons; single malts vs. blends; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Scotch or Scotches? (5:16)
Scotch, Bourbon, & Campfires (10:17)
5 Regions of Scotland Whisky (12:20)
Arran 10 Yr Single Malt (17:16)
Single Malt vs Blends (18:52)
Proof & Rules for Distilling Scotch (24:04)
Flash Reviews & Barrel-Aged Ski Boots (32:07)
Ratio of Spirit to Wood to Age (41:51)
Cask Wood Types & Bunnahabhain 12 Yr (48:51)
Adding Water (53:03)
Non-Chill Filter (56:05)
Why Not McCallan + Matt’s Favorites (1:02:33)
Bottlings (1:16:50)
JE's final Notes on Arran & Bunnahabhain (1:24:44)
Future Amateur Hour: Watches (1:27:19)

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CORK: Holiday Edition Dec 14, 2022

Danielle and Katie Nichols — the sisters behind CORK Natural Wine Shop & Restaurant in Stowe, Vermont — are back on CRAFTED to talk more about “natural wine”; discuss Italy, “priest stranglers,” and Corksicles; offer advice on holiday gift buying; and tell us about the revamped CORK Wine Club.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Natural Wine (4:27)
Holiday Gift Help (15:24)
Price Points & Natural Wine Importers (18:45)
Cork Wine Club (29:44)
Priest Stranglers & Connections in Italy (29:45)
Curating the Market for You (34:31)
Gift Cards and Corksicles (35:52)

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Art, Gear, & Beer: Blister Artist Series w/ John Fellows & Brandon Capps Dec 07, 2022

Artist, John Fellows, and New Image Brewing founder & head brewer, Brandon Capps, are back on CRAFTED to discuss our Blister Artist Series collab. John talks about his inspiration for the art and how he produced it; Brandon talks about creating the beer by starting with John’s artwork; Jonathan talks about how he came up with the name of the beer (Ambulation); and we also discuss the difference between an IPA & Double IPA; wabi sabi & kintsugi; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Creating the Artwork (2:21)
Brandon’s perception of the Art (6:18)
Creating a Beer based on the Art (10:46)
Styles: Pale Ale vs IPA vs Double IP (16:29)
Barley Wine (18:58)
Naming the Beer: Ambulation (23:06)
Back to the Art: Why Linoleum? (24:45)
Wabi Sabi & Kintsugi (25:54)
Where to find the Shirts & Beer (29:27)

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Gelato: Alberto & Julia Bati of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, Firenze, Italia Nov 23, 2022

This past June, Jonathan Ellsworth stumbled across a gelateria in Firenze (Florence) Italy, that basically changed his life. Because after going there every day — usually twice a day — he knew that he would have to come back to Florence and sit down for a CRAFTED conversation with Alberto and Julia Bati, owners of My Sugar Gelato Artigianale, to talk about the craft (and the hard work) of making some of the best gelato in the world. Here is that conversation, fresh from Florence.

TOPICS & TIMES:

300 gelato shops (5:30)
Florentine gelato vs “tourist” gelato (6:58)
Making gelato (9:43)
What to avoid and what to look for (14:37)
Texture (26:32)
Ice cream vs Gelato (31:02)
Teaching gelato making (32:30)
What’s a typical day like? (37:31)
Jonathan’s story of finding My Sugar (44:06)
The Shop Name: “My Sugar” (49:54)

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Amateur Hour: ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, on Knives Nov 09, 2022

In the ski world, ON3P Skis founder, Scott Andrus, is known for being maniacal about the craft of building skis. But today, we talk with Scott about his other obsession: knives. We discuss how Scott got into knives; knife quivers; patina chasing; price ranges; cutting boards; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Your background & ON3P Skis (6:27)
How & when did you get into knives? (8:45)
What do you call the type of knives that you are into? (10:02)
Difference between good vs mediocre knife (13:17)
Types of grinds (15:33)
Cutting boards (24:14)
What are ‘knife people’ most obsessed with? (28:11)
Patina (33:24)
Knife Quiver (34:09)
Price Range of Knives? (52:51)
Polishing & Sharpening (41:57)
If you could be gifted any knife? (43:21)
Chef’s Knives (44:54)
Durability & Maintenance? (44:54)
Final Thoughts? (49:33)

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The Art & Science of Whiskey, with Liz Rhoades, WhistlePig Nov 02, 2022

We headed back to Shoreham, Vermont, to sit down with the head of whiskey development at WhistlePig, Liz Rhoades, to dive deep into the art and science of distilling, sourcing, yeast strains, specific types of rye, non-alcoholic whiskey, and … WhistlePig’s new bourbon.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Liz’s background & role at WhistlePig (3:46)
What’s a “Diploma Distiller”? (7:27)
Fermentation Science, Biochemistry, & Nutraceutical Beer (10:14)
Whiskey as the “Beer Afterlife” (14:15)
The Workers of Whiskey: Saccharomyces (17:13)
Rye & What to Look for in Whiskey (23:13)
Single Malt, Grain Whiskey, Batch Rectifiers (30:58)
Maturation Processes (34:28)
Finishing Processes (38:14)
Blending (40:44)
Non-Alcoholic Whiskey (45:49)
WhistlePig Bourbon (51:07)
The Boss Hog IX: Siren’s Song (54:32)

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Barr Hill Distiller, Ryan Christiansen, on Honey, Bees, Gin, & More Oct 26, 2022

Barr Hill Gin is one of the best products being made in America today. And when paired with the mission of Barr Hill, you’ll understand why the company has such a fanatical following. Last week Jonathan Ellsworth was in Montpelier, Vermont, to spend the day at Barr Hill with Barr Hill president and distiller, Ryan Christiansen, to talk about bees and pollinators; the process of producing exceptional gin; what makes their Barr Hill vodka unique; the impact of their ‘Bees Knees Week’ initiative; their foray into the world of rye whiskey; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

What is Barr Hill? (5:28)
Bees & Honey (7:08)
Cocktail Culture Meets Agriculture (10:57)
History of Gin, Gin Production, & Vodka (13:26)
Gin & the Art of Extraction of Botanicals (26:11)
Honey, Bees, & More to Learn (36:21)
Exceptional vs Average Gin? (37:35)
Current State of the Gin World (48:57)
Tom Cat Gin (51:55)
Bees Knees Cocktail (1:01:51)
The Barr Hill Facility & Sustainability (1:09:00)
Bees Knees Week (1:17:53)
Bar Hill Accolades (1:24:40)
Whiskey?? (1:29:14)
Growth and Scale (1:35:38)

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The Alchemist's John & Jen Kimmich on Sustainability, Beer, & the Bigger Picture (Part 3) Oct 19, 2022

This week Jonathan Ellsworth was back at The Alchemist in Stowe, VT, to sit down with its founders, Jen and John Kimmich, to dive into their philosophy on sustainability — in all of its forms — and to hear how they created a company that is leading the way on a number of these fronts. It’s an impressive story driven by shared principles, and we hope this conversation serves as an inspiration to other companies across many sectors. (And of course, along the way, we also talk a good bit about making great beer and keeping the bar high.)

TOPICS & TIMES:

When did you get interested in sustainability? (3:05)
Human Sustainability (9:10)
Happiness, Job Satisfaction, & the Long Game (12:04)
Quality vs Sustainability? (21:49)
CO2 reclamation 24:07)
Sidestreaming (28:30)
Recycling (35:35)
Food Composting & Food Recycling (43:18)
Where do you get your ideas? (45:19)
Authenticity (51:01)
The Alchemist Foundation (58:13)
What’s Next? (1:04:22)

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Blue Collar Fine Art: Rob Dickinson of Precise Painting Oct 12, 2022

Around here, we all think of Rob Dickinson as skiing royalty. But Rob is also the owner of Precise Painting, an interior and exterior paint and finishing company that does extremely fine work, and employs 25+ people in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado. We talk to Rob about the craft of painting and finishing homes; what anyone thinking about building, purchasing, or maintaining a home in mountain towns ought to know about exteriors; how to think about aesthetics vs. price vs. durability; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Skiers Talking Sh!t (3:48)
Starting Precise Painting (6:42)
The Family Business (10:29)
Ski-Rep Dreams, Big-Mountain Comps (15:14)
Work Hours & Ski Hours (21:42)
Mtn Town Economics & Precise’ Model (24:55)
Misconceptions about house painting (27:04)
Age-Old Rules of the Trade (29:53)
Interiors & Exteriors in CB & Mtn Towns (33:28)
Aesthetics vs Price vs Durability (39:52)
Example: Crested Butte Center for the Arts (42:44)

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Amateur Hour: Paul Forward on Traditional Bows Oct 06, 2022

We talk to Blister reviewer (and medical doctor and lead heli guide), Paul Forward, about the art, ethics, and craftsmanship of traditional bows; when and how Paul became fascinated by them; and why we ought to appreciate their rich history and ethos, too.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Traditional Bow Hunter Magazine (1:53)
Trad Life (4:38)
Long Bows vs Recurve Bows (8:54)
Trad Bows vs Telemark Skiers (19:34)
Ethics of Traditional Bow Hunting (24:18)
The Act / Art of Archery (25:58)
“Bowyers” (35:22)
Paul’s favorite bows (29:58)
Self Bows (44:13)
Custom Bows (49:24)
Price Range of Traditional Bows (52:51)
Arrows? (58:40)
If you could be gifted any bow… (59:37)
How long should a bow last? (1:02:47)
Maintenance? (1:04:18)
Final Thoughts: Good Archery Shops (1:07:13)

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The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich (Part 2) Sep 22, 2022

With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after craft beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. In Part 2 of our conversation, we dive into the evolution of Heady Topper; why making great beer is not enough for John & Jen; & more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Heady Topper: History & Evolution (1:32)
Other Passions, Principles, & Priorities (16:26)
Jen & Sustainability Initiatives (26:04)

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The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich (Part 1) Sep 14, 2022

With Heady Topper, John Kimmich created one of the most sought-after beers in the world, and effectively created the profile of the modern IPA. In Part 1 of this tour-de-force of a conversation, we talk to John about his path to opening The Alchemist with his wife, Jen, in 2003; the business — and current landscape — of craft beer; his advice on opening a brewery; and what distinguishes great beer from mediocre beer.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Pittsburgh Steelers (2:42)
John’s Beer Background (4:50)
The Effects of Prohibition (18:52)
Mediocre Beer (22:42)
Current Landscape of Craft Beer (25:42)
Being Fortunate vs Being Lucky (34:28)
Opening The Alchemist (39:23)
Why the name, ‘The Alchemist’ (44:59)
Skiing / Snowboarding (51:45)
Why Vermont? (52:55)
Heady Topper & It’s Origins (55:39)
Advice on Opening a Brewery? (1:03:13)
Great Beer vs. Mediocre Beer (1:05:25)
Bitterness vs. Astringency (1:11:44)
Today’s Hazy IPAs (1:18:21)

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John Fellows: Artist, Illustrator, & Graphic Designer Sep 07, 2022

Today we are talking with John Fellows, one of our favorite artists, whose signature style can be found across the outdoor industry. We discuss John’s background in art; the business of art & graphic design; the development of his trademark style; and we announce our new Blister Artist Series that we are kicking off with John.

TOPICS & TIMES:

John’s background (4:37)
Style (13:26)
Consistency vs. Evolution of Style (19:14)
The Business of Art (25:04)
Dream Gigs & Your Typical Work Day (39:13)
Ski Town Art (42:50)
What other craft categories are you into? (50:23)
Blister Artist Series (53:51)

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What is Natural Wine? Danielle & Katie Nichols of CORK, Stowe, VT Aug 31, 2022

What is “Natural Wine”? Is it the same as organic wine, or raw wine? For answers, we talk with Danielle and Katie Nichols, the two amazing sisters behind CORK Restaurant & Natural Wine Shop. Danielle and Katie provide a fantastic introduction and overview of natural wine; explain how they got into it; and tell us about “Twinkie Wines” and “Breakfast Wines,” too.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Breakfast Wines (4:03)
What is CORK? (6:14)
Skiing & Sisters’ Backgrounds (12:55)
Back to Stowe (16:04)
Katie’s intro to Natural Wine (18:20)
Organic Wine vs. Natural Wine (24:13)
Twinkie Wines & Consistency (36:00)
Such a Range - approachable (45:39)
Wine Club (50:10)
Wine represents so much more than the rating (56:44)
Where to find them (1:02:22)

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The Origins & Ethos of Offset Bier, Park City, Utah Aug 25, 2022

Offset Bier has quickly established itself as the best brewery in Park City, and one of the very best in the state, making it a must-stop for any true beer aficionado. But Offset is also establishing itself as a community hub for skiers, runners, and bikers. We talk with Offset co-founder, Conor Brown, about the name “Offset Bier”; approachability vs. complexity; brewing in a state with strict liquor laws; their “No Flights, No Whining” policy; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Ski-Industry Roots (4:16)
Why the name Offset? (6:12)
Origin story (12:35)
Approachability & Complexity (21:23)
Beer: DOPO: “Lie.P.A.” (24:32)
Beer: Czech-Style Dark Lager (27:20)
Foam (29:36)
Utah’s liquor laws (34:13)
“Death By a Thousand Cuts” (42:38)
“No Flights, No Whining” (51:54)
“Artisanal” (56:24)
Beer: Stivot (1:00:46)
Chemistry (1:06:54)
Standing Out (1:13:28)
Community Events (1:18:59)
Name a brewery that’s inspired you? (1:21:00)
Other craft category you keep an eye on? (1:25:16)

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A Very Deep Dive on Coffee w/ Sam Higby of First Ascent Aug 17, 2022

First Ascent Coffee Roasters might be best known for their instant coffee. So in this conversation, FA owner and partner and coffee roaster, Sam Higby discusses the difference between very good and very bad instant coffee; light roasts vs. dark roast; the brewing process; brewing coffee at altitude; how to make great coffee on a budget; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES

Sam’s background (4:25)
First Ascent Coffee (9:32)
History of instant coffee & what makes it good or bad (10:13)
Light Roasts vs Dark Roasts (22:17)
The roasting process (30:52)
Graders vs Sommeliers (34:22)
Hot sauce, hops, & dark roasts (37:16)
Brewing at altitude (42:13)
Grinding & Grinders (46:03)
Extraction / grind size (51:17)
Different brewing methods (54:23)
How to do good coffee on a budget (58:04)
Whiskey Taste (1:09:34)

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New Image Brewing on Constant Experimentation, Inspiration, & Evolution Aug 10, 2022

Today, we’ve got the very first episode of our latest podcast, CRAFTED. On CRAFTED, we dive deep into the craft world to explore how things get made, and do so with the remarkable people who insist on making things well.

We’re kicking off the podcast by talking with Brandon Capps, the founder and owner of New Image Brewing in the Denver area of Colorado. Brandon is not only part of the reason we launched CRAFTED, he’s also someone who is exceptionally good at — and passionate about — discussing the intricacies of brewing, growing a business, and doing things differently. We cover all of that and more, including what other breweries inspire him; coming up with 600+ beer recipes over the years; New Image’s constant production of new one-off beers vs. year-round options; and what truly makes a “Craft” company.

TOPICS & TIMES: