CRAFTED is the podcast from BLISTER (blisterreview.com) that dives deep into the craft world of beer, coffee, whiskey, watches, wine, and more. Our guests will be some of the very best and most passionate brewers, distillers, winemakers, coffee producers, retailers, and founders that launched craft companies when success was unlikely, but their passion and principles caused them to forge ahead anyway. CRAFTED explores how things get made, and does so with the remarkable people that insist on making things well.
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)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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
Become a BLISTER+ Member
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)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
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)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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.)
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
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)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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!
RELATED LINKS
Check out the Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
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)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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)
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Off The Couch
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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
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Blister Cinematic
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
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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
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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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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
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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)
RELATED LINKS
Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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 )
RELATED LINKS
Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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)
RELATED LINKS
Montanya Distillers: Where to Buy
Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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
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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:
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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:
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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)
RELATED LINKS
Blister Craft Collective
Become a BLISTER+ Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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)
RELATED LINKS
Blister Craft Collective
Become a Blister + Spot Member
SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:
Bikes & Big Ideas
Off The Couch
GEAR:30
Blister Podcast
Happy Hour
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Today on CRAFTED, Blister 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; analogies comparing watches to outdoor gear; why he thinks watches are particularly important and interesting today; and more.
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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 I discuss butt casks and blood tubs; why cask size matters; barrel-aged ski boots; tea spoons; single malts vs. blends; and more.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CRAFTED explores how things get made, and does so with the remarkable people that insist on making things well.
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.