CRAFTED

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.