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ACAST Zerno is one of the hottest brands in the world of specialty coffee, and for good reasons. So Jonathan recently met up with Zerno’s founder, Vel Genov, at their brand-new manufacturing center in Chicago, and today, you’ll get to hear their follow-up conversation, where they discuss what led Vel to design & manufacture coffee grinders in Chicago; Vel’s obsession with quality, functionality, and aesthetics (rather than price); burr sizes and why they matter; product design, iteration, and manufacturing; comparisons between the Zerno Z1 and the new Z2; and more. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the overall category of craft beer is currently experiencing a decline, the Burlington, Vermont craft beer maker, Zero Gravity Beer, is thriving. How? To find out, Eli talked with Zero Gravity’s Christopher Costello about the keys to Zero Gravity Beers’ success; what has evolved and what’s stayed the same for them over these 20 years; the current state of New England brewing; and more. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Zero Gravity Beer Zero Gravity Community TOPICS & TIMES: Zero Gravity Background (1:50) Farm House Model (11:52) Production Facility (14:22) Adapting to High Growth (19:26) State of the Union: East Coast Beer (25:04) Terroir & Beer (30:34) 3rd Place Space & Community (34:44) The Hummingbird Logo & ‘Listers’ (38:33) Caribbean Beer Dinner (41:06) The N/A Category (44:12) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few craft categories have experienced the meteoric rise of ‘functional beverages,’ and specifically, THC-infused drinks. But despite their popularity, what goes into making these drinks remains a secret, and not all THC-beverages are created equal.  So today, Eli talks with Fabric founder, Tom Eddleston, about what goes into crafting functional beverages with real intention. From cannabinoids to flavor-profile development, this conversation demystifies a category that is shrouded in misinformation.  We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Fabric Fabric Blog Fabric x POW Farm Bill Brief BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: An Introduction To Colorado Sober (2:17) History of Fabric (6:43) Definitions and Offerings (11:30) Ingredients (24:53) The Importance of Education First (32:02) Mental Health Advocacy (37:48) Mental Health & the Outdoors (42:38) Market Viability and Restrictions (45:36) Lobbying Efforts for Regulation (54:31) Cultural Significance of Inebriation (58:42) Zebra Striping (1:02:49) Distribution (1:05:40) Get Involved (1:10:03) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan talks with Blister managing editor Luke Koppa, reviewer Paul Forward, and our bike editor, David Golay, about the craft categories that most captivated them this past year, and some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2026. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Heaven 11 BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: Luke Koppa (3:40) Paul Forward (18:45) David Golay (45:17) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we wrap up 2025, we are once again sharing the craft categories that most captivated our Blister reviewers this past year, and we’re revealing some of the categories they are most curious about heading into 2026. We kick things off with Simon Stewart, Jonathan Ellsworth, Kristin Sinnott, and Eli Brown. Please enjoy, and Happy New Year! We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: Simon Stewart (2:14) Jonathan Ellsworth (9:55) Kristin Sinnott (31:44) Eli Brown (51:05) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Distillation has been a common topic here on Crafted as of late, and we have had the pleasure of speaking with some of the most important names in the American spirits industry. Yet, commercial distillation inevitably limits creativity and innovation. That is not the case for this week’s guest, Jesse Wilson, the founder of a pair of companies focused on home distillation, Still It and Chase the Craft. What began as a video series based around a man learning to distill has grown into an exploration of all things spirits innovation - Jesse has now distilled everything from Big Macs to 300 year old absinthe recipes. In this conversation we dive into the history of both companies, the science of distillation, the magic of aging, and the unique insights Jesse has gained from his exploration of supremely small batch spirits production.  We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Chase the Craft Still It 18th-Century Absinthe Distilling Big Macs Potato Vodka BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: How Eli Discovered ‘Still It’ (3:58) Distillation Adventures & YouTube (7:15) Jesse’s First Still (21:03) Chase The Craft (27:41) Absinthe (34:04) Head, Hearts, & Tails (51:10) Charring Barrels (1:04:48) Big Mac Distillation & Meme Spirits (1:09:23) Who Should Try Home Distilling (1:16:30) The Future of Home Distilling (1:21:29) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently, Jonathan has been going deep down the rabbit hole of camera gear and lighting, and the strikingly handsome Justin Bobb has been his spiritual guide. So today, we’re broaching these topics with all of you, and you’ll get to hear JE apologize profusely to Luke Koppa for basically forcing him to drink terrible coffee over the years. (You’ll see.)  We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: Why J Bobb Needs to Block JE (2:37) Origins of J Bobb's Interest in Cameras (4:22) Digital vs Analog (6:51) 35mm and Beyond: Megapixels (10:00) Planned Releases (13:22) Light (15:33) Analogies: Coffee & Camera Gear? (19:33) Sony A6700 (23:42) Camera Hand Feel (29:08) Camera Brands (30:44) Ecosystems & Who’s Best at What? (38:29) Which is Easier to Learn: Filming or Snowboarding? (49:42) Shiny-New-Object Syndrome (51:38) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda Thomson loved enjoying a glass of wine to wind down the evening, but she also needed to be high-functioning first thing in the morning. That craving led to the 2019 release of Noughty Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay, Thomson’s award-winning attempt to fill a massive gap in the industry. Eli sat down with Amanda to discuss what makes Noughty “wine, just better”; the differences between the American and European markets; and some of the most challenging aspects of creating a product line that has come to define quality N/A wine.  We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: SennzaFinne Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Noughty Wine BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: A Brief History of Noughty Wine (3:54) Champagne (11:12) The difference Between European & American Drinking Culture(14:52) Defining NA Wine (20:35) Reds (25:03) Challenges Making Sparkling White (34:57) NA State of the Union (35:46) Being the OG Brand Everyone is Chasing (42:13) New Products (47:00) Hard Work Pays Off (50:33) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a spirits landscape full of massive brands and mega marketing budgets, what differentiates a craft producer? SennzaFinne, the Seattle based amaro producer founded by former bartenders, has found creative ways to make their mark. This week Eli checked back in with Gillian and Joey to learn about their approach to guerilla marketing at the world’s premier beverage conference (it involves a custom backpack), and they also dove into the company’s recent experiments with ingredient recycling. From brewery collaborations to botanical seltzers, there is a lot happening over at SennzaFinne, and they get into a little bit of all things ‘bitter’ in this conversation. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Heaven 11 Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member SennzaFinne Recipes Gift Box BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: Tasting at Tales (5:14) Partnerships with Breweries (12:56) Distillation Collaboration with Old Log Cabin (23:28) Ready-To-Drink Options (30:11) Pop Up Bars (40:12) SennzaFinne’s Lineup (44:00) Last Leaf & Mezcal (47:09) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caviar. Is there any word — or food — that more quickly conjures up associations of luxury and opulence? But caviar isn’t just a thing to serve on the yacht you don’t own, caviar has a rich history. Once a snack only for Russian oligarchs, today it is found in more places and likely on potato chips. Eli talks with Sarah Mayo for a deep dive into the history of global caviar production; the ways in which the modern market is shaping consumption; and the endangered status of the fish responsible for this exotic dish.  We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Black River Caviar BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways TOPICS & TIMES: History of Caviar (2:53) The Production Process (14:30) The Market for Caviar (17:57) Soviet Caviar (24:58) China's Influence (30:38) Sturgeon, Illegal Fishing, & Hybrid Products (32:13) Lifecycle of the Sturgeon (39:53) Grading Structure (49:51) Caviar & Wine (52:48) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every distillery owner has a land speed record to their name, but Ryan Montgomery of Montgomery Distilling does. So Eli talked with him about all things spirits, from the Montana-grown grain that helped power that land speed record, to the world’s first bourbon-based amaro. They also discuss the similarities between aquavit and gin; the labor of love known as kirschwasser; and the inspirational effect of Merle Haggard and the Grateful Dead.  We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Heaven 11 Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Montgomery Distilling Lords of Dirt Spirits and Spokes TOPICS & TIMES: Farm to Bottle (3:49) Farming & Ranching (5:07) From Home Brewing to Distilling (6:39) Whiskey School & Stills (9:23) Starting a Whiskey Business (12:55) Single Malt & Special Releases (16:06) What Does He Like to Drink (20:43) “Mama Tried” Bourbon (24:12) Aquavit (26:01) Aged Aquavit (33:19) Aging in Montana (37:10) State of Distilling in the US & Montana (49:41) Liquor Licensing (57:30) B'Amaro (1:02:39) Motorcycle Fuel, Lords of Dirt, Spirit in the Spokes (1:09:25) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A famous philosopher once said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” We agree. And while music is all around us, it’s easier and easier to take it for granted, or to have a very diluted experience of it. So, how do you elevate your everyday music listening experience? Today, Simon catches up with Itai Azerad, founder of Heaven 11, to talk about how their new Billie Amp MK3 does just that. Heaven 11’s goal is to restore the connection between the listener and music, and bring back the ritual of listening. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS Blister Studios (our new channel) Blister Review (our original channel) TOPICS & TIMES: Check out the New Billie Amp at Capitol Audiofest (2:16) Billie Amp MK3’s Modular Design (3:52) Choosing Between Amplifier Modules (7:01) Future Proofing in Audio Products (12:26) Incorporating User Feedback (14:06) Bringing Back Your Father’s Hifi System (20:42) Rediscovering New Details in Music (30:24) Aesthetics Matter (41:31) An Emotional Connection to Music (47:00) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you make great coffee on the road? Jonathan talks with Alex LeBlanc, the owner and head roaster at Calibration Coffee Lab, to talk about our recent attempts at this. Then, we discuss Alex’s own approach to roasting, and what becomes clear is that there are lots of different priorities and values that a particular coffee roaster might have — and understanding those will likely help you identify your favorite roasters. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELS Blister Studios (our new channel) Blister Review (our original channel) TOPICS & TIMES: New Coffee Gear & No-Bypass Brewing (3:31) Water Additives (13:14) Hand Grinders vs Electric Grinders (14:49) Bed Pressure (23:44) Filter Coffee & Various Brewing Styles (26:13) Roasting: Alex’s Approach (32:42) Over Roasting & Other Coffee Crimes (42:19) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 1822, Yard-O-Led has been making some of the finest pens and pencils in the world. They’ve survived wars, they created the “self-propelling pencil,” and today, we talk with Giles English, about the nearly 200-year history of the company that invented the mechanical pencil and still hand-crafts every sterling silver pen in their Birmingham workshop. We dig into the artistry behind engine-turning and hand-chasing, Yard-O-Led’s story of wartime survival, and what it means to carry Victorian tradition into the 21st century. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: SennzaFinne Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Yard-O-Led TOPICS & TIMES: The Custodian of Yard-O-Led (3:41) Origin Story of Yard-O-Led (5:36) Nibs & Nib Making (9:30) The Self-Propelling Pencil (13:33) The Craft of Penmaking (22:27) Ink Propulsion (34:20) Yard-O-Led’s Lineup (40:50) Why Pens Matter (44:38) Surprises in the Pen Making World (48:34) The Yard-O-Led Arcade (54:42) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast BLISTER NEWSLETTER: Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jasper Hill Farm is one of the most respected names in American artisan cheese, and in today’s episode, Jonathan & Eli talk with Zoe Brickley — Jasper Hill’s “Minister of Culture” — about how a struggling Vermont dairy made a big gamble that grew into an award-winning operation. We dig into the 9,000-year history of cheesemaking; the science and craft of “affinage”; and why caves, microbes, and even lard are central to great cheese. Zoe also makes the case for seeking out real artisan cheese and why food this good can be so great for local communities and local farms. We Want to Hear from You! Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED. RELATED LINKS: Blister Craft Collective Become a BLISTER+ Member Jasper Hill TOPICS & TIMES: The North East Kingdom (2:00) Zoe’s Background, Minister of Culture (3:51) Cheese Terminology & Mongers (6:09) Jasper Hill Origin Story (11:05) History of Cheese (14:18) Recent Fascination w/ Cheese (19:11) Cloth Bound Cheddar & Cave Aging (29:42) Cultures & Inoculation (35:30) Preservation Techniques (38:19) How Would One Get Started in the Cheese Industry? (45:14) Which Styles are Most Difficult to Make? (50:31) Blooming Rind (52:32) A Pitch for Artisan Cheese (58:19) Current State of Cheese (1:03:43) SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS: Blister Cinematic Bikes & Big Ideas GEAR:30 Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.