CRAFTED

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 LINKSHmonglish PodcastUnion Hmong KitchenBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ Member Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 2SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 1CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 3SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSMontanya Distillers: Where to BuyBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 & TIMESThe 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)RELATED LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 orderUse the code COFFEELOVE to get $10 off of your first subscriptionSign 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)RELATED LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCRAFTED ep. 19: Best Coffee Gear, Pt. 1CRAFTED ep. 20: Best Coffee Gear, Pt. 2SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a BLISTER+ MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 LINKSBlister Craft CollectiveBecome a Blister + Spot MemberSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSBecome a Blister + Spot MemberBlister Craft CollectiveOur Other Podcasts with Brandon & Connor:CRAFTED ep 15: Art, Gear, & BeerCRAFTED ep 03: Offset Bier, Origins & EthosCRAFTED ep 01: New Image BrewingSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSBecome a Blister + Spot MemberBlister Craft CollectiveGeoff’s site: championdontstop.comOur 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)SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTED Bikes & Big IdeasOff The CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSGet the Blister x Fellows Artist Series CollabBLISTER Craft CollectiveBLISTER Open Mic SeriesCRAFTED ep. 19: Coffee Gear, Pt.1GEAR:30: A Very Deep Dive on CoffeeGEAR:30: Cody Townsend & Jonathan Talk CoffeeYouTube: Cody & Jonathan Talk CoffeeCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSGet the Blister x Fellows Artist Series CollabBLISTER Craft CollectiveBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBikes & Big Ideas: Andrew Gardner on Mtn vs. “Gravel” BikesGEAR:30: Cody Townsend & Jonathan Talk CoffeeYouTube: Cody & Jonathan Talk CoffeeCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSGet the Blister x Fellows Artist Series CollabBLISTER Craft CollectiveBLISTER Open Mic SeriesCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSGet the Blister x Fellows Artist Series CollabBLISTER Craft CollectiveBLISTER Open Mic SeriesCRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 2CRAFTED: Matt Manser on Scotch, Part 3CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSWebsite: corkvt.comCRAFTED, ep.4: What is Natural Wine?Get the Blister x Fellows Artist Series CollabBLISTER Craft CollectiveBLISTER Open Mic SeriesCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSGet the Blister x Fellows ShirtNew Image BrewingBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30Happy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSMy Sugar’s InstagramBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Types of Knives are You Into? (10:02)Difference Between a 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)RELATED LINKSBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSWhistlePig’s website BLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSWebsite: Barr HillBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSThe Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich, Pt. 1The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John Kimmich, Pt. 2The Alchemist BreweryBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveSEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSPart 1: The Alchemist co-founder & brewer, John KimmichThe Alchemist BreweryBLISTER Open Mic SeriesBLISTER Craft CollectiveCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSPart 2: Our Conversation with The Alchemist's John KimmichThe Alchemist BreweryBLISTER’s Open Mic SeriesCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSJohn Fellows’ Website & WorkBLISTER’s Open Mic SeriesCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)RELATED LINKSCORK’s Wine ClubBLISTER’s Open Mic SeriesCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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)OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 & TIMESSam’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)OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:Jonathan & Brandon’s history (2:31)CRAFTED Kick Off (6:35)What is New Image Brewing? (8:15)Growing a brewing company (11:53)What we’re drinking (Fanny Pack) (14:51)How New Image does things differently (19:25)What makes a “Craft” company? (24:30)Brandon’s background in engineering (30:28)Brandon’s evolving personal preferences (36:08)Curveball: psychedelic revolution (40:55)ABV pop quiz (48:31)Future segment: How to Pour Beer (49:53)What other breweries inspire Brandon? (54:36)One-offs vs. year-round beers (1:01:35)Where is New Image beer found? (1:05:36)OUR OTHER PODCASTSBlister PodcastBikes & Big IdeasOff the CouchGEAR:30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CRAFTED explores how things get made, and does so with the remarkable people that insist on making things well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.