Episode 3: Coffee, Community & Colorado Springs: A Fascinating Chat That Goes Beyond The Brew

Nov 19

Join Carly Ries, Lauren Ferrara and special guest Carissa Niemeyer, co-owner of the beloved Story Coffee, as they spill the beans (pun intended) on the rich and aromatic world of coffee culture in Colorado Springs!

From awkward coffee shop moments to heartfelt stories of connection, this episode celebrates simplicity, community, and the joy of a really good cup of coffee. Whether you’re a die-hard coffee fan, a curious minimalist, or someone who just loves a good story, this conversation will perk you up.

COLORADO SPRINGS COFFEE SHOPS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

AWESOME SPONSOR ALERT

We are thrilled to have Core Collective as our very first sponsor!! Pilates is a great way to improve your physical and mental health. Their classes are designed to help you build strength and flexibility, improve your posture and mental health, and reduce stress. On top of that, they're offering one heck of a deal!

If you use the code SPRINGSANDTHINGS, you can get 3 classes for $30 now through the end of 2024! Head to corecollectiveCOS.com to get this offer!

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Carly and Lauren's Pick: Baloonacy at the Milibo Art Theater
Carissa's Pick: Downtown Colorado Springs Shop Local Win Local

MISC MENTIONS

Don’t forget to hit subscribe, grab your favorite brew, and tune in for a dose of inspiration and caffeine!

Episode Transcript:

Lauren Ferrara: So, Carly, you're at a coffee shop. What is

Carly Ries: your go to order? Okay. Depending on the day, I'm either very basic and I get a cappuccino, or I get this thing called a golden milk latte.

Lauren Ferrara: You're saying. My husband would agree.

Carly Ries: But have you had a golden milk latte?

Lauren Ferrara: I have. It's not like I I feel like when I get it, I'm being very healthy, and I'm proud of myself, but it is not my go to.

Carly Ries: Well, I just drank a lot of turmeric right before this call from my Golden Milk Latte. No coffee in it. Man, it's good. What is your go to?

Lauren Ferrara: My go to is an oat milk cappuccino. Oh. Yes.

Carly Ries: Okay. So you're not super basic. Oh, that's pretty basic. No? I mean,

Lauren Ferrara: you have a milk substitute. Well, only because I, I actually prefer it with whole milk, but then I'm trying to be healthy or whatever.

Carly Ries: Oh, fair. Well, I like it. Well, folks, welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where 2 close friends spill the tea and coffee

Lauren Ferrara: Yep.

Carly Ries: On all things Colorado Springs. From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we've got it covered. I am Carly Reiss.

Lauren Ferrara: And I'm Lauren Ferrara. We're sipping our coffee, really, today. I'm actually having my cappuccino right now, and we're diving into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. So whether you're a local or you're just passing through, we hope our fun, lighthearted, and entertaining take will keep you coming back for more.

Carly Ries: Well, so Lauren, what do you love about coffee shops?

Lauren Ferrara: You know, it's funny. Whenever I go to a new city, like, the first thing I do is find the most hipstery coffee shop I can find. And, like, the hipsters know good coffee. Right? Like, you can feel their vibe and you know you're at the right place.

And I just love that it feels like that community space, that third space that's like an extension of your living room. You get to know the locals, chitchat with strangers. Like, it's just like cheers or Central Park on friends.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Oh, I totally agree. I actually there's this app called Coffeetivity. I don't know if you've heard of this. I don't even know if you call it an app.

I just type in coffee tivity.com. And it literally is just a playlist of coffee shop background noise. Oh, and so when I'm in my kitchen, or trying to get stuff done, I put on coffee tivity, and I'm like, I could totally get in the zone. And I get so much done at coffee shops.

Lauren Ferrara: Like, it's

Carly Ries: great for people watching, but, man, I can really crank stuff out.

Lauren Ferrara: I know. I have this home office. I put so much thought into, like, my workspace, and now it just collects all my magazines and mail and I I have to be outside of my home to actually work. So, Carly, you're on a mission to find the best to to to make your home the best coffee place, best

Carly Ries: coffee place. Not wanna serve coffee to a bunch of strangers in our home when we have to put that disclaimer out there. But for friends and family, you know how there's some people that are are like, oh, I want our friends to come to our house for a good Manhattan or a good steak or whatever. We want to be the house their friends come to when they're like, we're going on a walk. Let's just have a good cup cup of coffee over here.

And so we have been touring around to different coffee shops around town, buying the beans, bringing them home, and blindly taste testing them to see which ones we actually like the best, because we're kinda partial to certain coffee shops around town that we just go to a lot. And so we're like, let's trick ourselves and see if our taste buds match our the brands

Carly Ries: that we follow

Lauren Ferrara: as well. What are you serving right now?

Carly Ries: So the top 3 right now. So we're so, I have to say, which this is a true story. Even if our guest wasn't on today, and we'll introduce her in a second, we always have so we have 3, like, canisters of beans in our house that are always on top of the, table, and then the others are in the cupboard. Top 3, we have Story Coffee in our house right now, which, oh my gosh. Love those.

We have so my husband's a big, Nightmare Before Christmas fan. And so for our anniversary, I give him all these coffee beans and Solar Coffee, had a Nightmare Before Christmas branded coffee. So we're working our way through that. And then we have a bag of loyal next to it as well. So Solid.

So I will. So those are

Lauren Ferrara: the over to your house next time.

Carly Ries: But we are work and those I mean, we love those 3 coffee shops, but we but we're still exploring the whole city. Like, we're literally trying to get through, like, just to see who has the best bean, and those are the 3.

Lauren Ferrara: Well, I love the blind tasting idea too. Thanks. You really know.

Carly Ries: But I, I just mentioned those 3. What's I mean, what are your favorite coffee shops?

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, so I obviously, story has a near and dear place in my heart. And we'll talk about that a little later. But I I hop around. So black magic in the Mining Exchange Hotel, I've been spending a lot of time there lately for many reasons. It's like a cool place to meet people or, like, meet you know, have meetings.

I'm just going up to people. It's so fun. Hi, Kim. I'm

Carly Ries: cool. Good.

Lauren Ferrara: Also, the hotel is dog friendly. So Huckleberry gets to join me. And they have they always have little biscuits for the doggies. So I just and I love the vibe. It's such a cool space right now.

And right across the street have you been to Jicona? I don't know if I'm pronouncing that right. But it's like so I don't think they even have a sign up yet. But it is a total hidden gem. They have video games there.

So I brought my kids and they'll play video games. And an insane baker, like, such good treats. And it is I don't wanna call it dog friendly on a podcast because I don't know that for sure, but I definitely have brought my dog. Nobody said a word. So I think it's dog friendly, which is nice.

Frankly is another good spot. I love their patio. It's like during the summer, I love going to Frankly. So

Carly Ries: Yes. Yes.

Lauren Ferrara: I'm a little obsessed with my dog lately, clearly, because you can blame the dog. They also have really good seasonal drinks. And I don't yeah. Like I told you, I'm a I'm a basic cappuccino girl. But every now and again, I'll try, like, a seasonal drink and I feel like they kinda nail it on and nothing like they're they're always super well balanced.

Nothing's too sweet. Like, a really sweet coffee is not my thing.

Carly Ries: They don't do they have PSLs in the fall? Do they have PSLs?

Lauren Ferrara: Do, but it's it's way better than you think it is. To make it a PSL? Starbucks one. It's like yeah. And and I always get it with just, like, a hint of that.

I don't want the full but even if if even if they give you the full syrup, it doesn't taste like too sweet.

Carly Ries: Alright. So I like it.

Lauren Ferrara: Have you been to Squishmack's?

Carly Ries: Yes. Yeah. Yes. And I I love the playground next to it. I always forget that one.

I know they have 2 locations, but the one that with the playground Yes.

Lauren Ferrara: I always forget the 3.

Carly Ries: My kids love playing there.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm. And then, what about building 3?

Carly Ries: Yes. I actually went there for the first time. We were meeting for something, and I because I'd been to the complex before and just never had coffee shop. I think we were going to see a film there early.

Lauren Ferrara: So location, location, location. They're right by Rocky Mountain Women's Film, and they do their, gosh, monthly little film clubs and stuff.

Carly Ries: And this is all Cascade

Lauren Ferrara: for a little window now. Yes. It's the Lincoln School. Yes. So and, like, Flip Shack's there, Nightingale Bakery is there.

Oh,

Carly Ries: say no more. That's a whole other episode.

Lauren Ferrara: I think my husband has a little crush on the baker. He's like, I'm heading to.

Carly Ries: The baker. They met the

Carly Ries: bakery. Well, that's But, yeah,

Lauren Ferrara: I know. Like, the baker is he's like this celebrity, and my husband's like, he's like, he makes the best baguettes. So I'm like, he really does. Yeah. Yeah.

So So what about where are your go tos?

Carly Ries: You you mentioned a lot of

Lauren Ferrara: them. Yes. I did.

Carly Ries: So I said They can be your face. From our blind taste test, loyal is in in the top 3 canisters in our on our table right now. We talk we're we're going to be talking a lot about story. Kairos coffee is a hidden gem off of Garden of the Gods. Yeah.

And when I think Garden of the Gods right off of I 25, there's a lot of, anywhere USA places.

Lauren Ferrara: You know

Carly Ries: what I mean? They have to do In N Out Burger there. It's just so busy.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah.

Carly Ries: Restaurants. And then there's this cutesy little coffee shop where you feel like you're in the mountains, and it is right off the interstate. Nice. So like that there. And then this one, I there's a little coffee shop in the canyon called Sacred Grounds, and I Oh, yes.

If you are hiking or if it's a snowy day or whatever, you are you are in the mountains. You're in the canyon.

Lauren Ferrara: So cozy and cute.

Carly Ries: The ambiance is just very Colorado. And, I just like the location of that one. So just to piggyback off of yours, those are

Lauren Ferrara: are some other ones. Those are some good ones. And loyal, of course. Two locations. And, like, whenever I'm up north, yeah, the loyal like, that loyal ridgeline is such a great place to help heat up with folks.

Carly Ries: Absolutely. Can

Lauren Ferrara: we talk about our sponsor?

Carly Ries: I thought you'd never ask.

Lauren Ferrara: I love our sponsor, Core Collective. So Pilates is the best thing ever. The best thing you could do for your body. I'm obsessed. I've been doing it for well over 10 years now, and there is no place like Core Collective.

The classes, they're so they help you build strength and flexibility, improve posture and mental health. They reduce stress. They do all those things that Pilates does, and they also kick your booty. Like, the instructors are insane, in a good way. I think that would've loved.

But, like, yeah, they're super like, a lot of the classes are super hardcore, but it's also not at all intimidating. And I feel like it's super welcoming and everybody's rooting for each other and the instructors are your friends. Like, it feels like such an amazing space. So you came. What were your thoughts?

Carly Ries: First timer, really scared, don't know how to do Pilates. My kids are intimidating, and I loved it. Don't you? It's the best. They were so welcoming.

It it just felt like such a great community in a warm environment, and I I had a smile on my face the rest of the day. I know this like, the sponsor did not tell us to say that. I genuinely had a smile on my face

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, I love that. The rest of

Carly Ries: the day. So it just makes you feel good.

Lauren Ferrara: Yes. And, what's what's funny so I the both the instructors used to work for a Pilates franchise in town, and I would follow, like, there were 2 or 3 locations. Wherever they were, I would go like, I followed those specific instructors. And now that they have their own place, I am just so delighted. And this is something that's, like, very you know how if you cancel a workout class, they'll charge you, like, $20 and you're like, but I'm already paying so much money for the membership.

I'm mad. This will make you feel good about it because their late cancel fee goes to a nonprofit. So they pick a, like, movement based nonprofit every every quarter. And so if you late cancel, it's $10 rather than, like, 20 or 30 or whatever. And all of that goes to a nonprofit.

So they're not profiting on you missing your class, which I think

Carly Ries: is cool. Amazing. But let's pretend people want to go to the class. What do they have to offer

Lauren Ferrara: for us? They definitely wanna go. So they have this is the best offer they've offered since they've opened. They opened last December. If you use the code springs and things, and that's you gotta, spell out and, springs and things, you can get 3 classes for $30.

That deal goes till the end of 2024, and you can get it by going to corecollectivecos.com. Love it. So you might have noticed there was one coffee shop we did not talk a whole lot about, and that is Story Coffee, which holds a very special place in my heart. I feel like Story was one of the places that, like, was instrumental in making Colorado Springs a cool place to live. So I am so psyched to introduce our guest.

That's Carissa Niemeyer, the co owner of the story. Hey, Carissa.

Carly Ries: Hi, guys. Hi. I'm so excited you're here.

Carly Ries: Thanks for having me.

Lauren Ferrara: So tell me how so you guys have been open for almost 10 years.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Over 10 years this November.

Carly Ries: This November.

Lauren Ferrara: How did you wind up in Colorado Springs?

Carly Ries: Well, years ago, right after my husband and I got married, we actually lived here for a couple years with the goal of eventually moving out to Portland to pursue coffee.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm. So at

Carly Ries: the time, I was a nanny. My husband was actually working at Starbucks, and we were dreaming of starting a shop ourselves. Ironically, we actually had our first business plan was written, looking at a space directly across from where Solar Roast is now, about a block away from where Story is put up. So, eventually, we moved out to Portland, lived there for 9 years, I think, and then decided that being that far away from family wasn't a great idea. So we had a couple shops out in Portland, really got into the coffee scene there, decided to move back this way, and we wound up doing a road trip that took us to 47 states checking out the coffee scene.

My husband did some writing for a coffee trade magazine at the time. And when we came back through Colorado, we never thought we'd wind up back here, but we drove back through and fell in love with it and decided this would be our spot we'd call home.

Carly Ries: Quick is this Sorry. You go. I'm so upset. You go.

Lauren Ferrara: Because you guys are like cancer spirits. You both done the RV thing and probably for longer than you had planned to. What states did you miss? You said 47 states.

Carly Ries: Yeah. So we missed North Dakota.

Carly Ries: Okay.

Carly Ries: I was born there, and no offense to North Dakota, but there wasn't a whole lot

Lauren Ferrara: to go see.

Carly Ries: So we were okay with missing North Dakota, and then we only were in the continental US. So we did not hit Alaska Hawaii.

Lauren Ferrara: That makes sense.

Carly Ries: That makes sense.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Well, I just listening to you talk, we so my husband and I were on the road 2014 and 2015, and then took a break to do the whole house kid, all that stuff, get married. That whole thing. But we were when we hit the road again, we're like, you know what we should do? We should find the best coffee shops in the country and just follow those coffee shops around.

And you actually did that, and I am so jealous and offline because this could be a 10 hour conversation. You have to tell me, like, just your favorite places. Just I I just have so much I need to know, but that's so cool. You are. You lived a dream that people have, and I know that's true because I was one of those people.

Carly Ries: It was it really was a dream. It was fantastic.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Well and you're kind of a minimalist now from that experience. Right? Like, you kinda you put your focus on the things that really matter to you and forget the rest. Like, can you tell me about that a little bit?

Carly Ries: Yeah. So we knew that we were gonna travel, well, we knew we were gonna relocate. And then we got this idea of, like, well, there's lots of people since we live so far away that have never met our kids. Maybe we should just go see them, maybe take a couple weeks. And then as ideas do, that started to grow.

And at first, we were like, well, let's get a van just big enough to camp and sleep in. And then that grew. And finally, we were like, well, what if we just sell everything we own and move into a tiny RV? And so what wound up happening is we knew we couldn't afford an RV and a house, so we sold everything but about 6 boxes of things and got a little 90 square foot RV for the 4 of us. It was myself, my husband, and our 2 older children at the time.

And we slept 1 night in that RV just to make sure we liked it, and the next day, we put in our 1 month or 30 day notice with our landlord. And 30 days later, we moved in and stayed in that for about 4 years.

Carly Ries: Yep. See? It's cool. And this is before it was cool because I tell people that I RVed. And they're like, yeah.

We have an RV too. And it's like, no. This was that but, like, pre 2020, that was not a thing. It was hard to find like minded people that were younger. I mean, it was all a bunch of retirees and everything.

But it's really, like, gone nuts in the past 4 years, I feel like, but we were the OGs. Yeah. Totally. I think COVID opened up this door for people to

Carly Ries: be like, hey. Now we actually have time to do it. We're working from home. There's all these different spaces, which I think is really beautiful. For us, the big piece, sounds like you guys, is it wasn't, oh, we have an RV and we RV sometimes.

It was, oh, look. We're homeowners of a 90 square foot home on wheels, and that's all we got Yeah. Along with a tiny bit

Lauren Ferrara: of storage. So What do you think is the best thing that has come out of minimalism for you?

Carly Ries: For for me, it's seeing how it plays out in my kids' lives.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: So all of us, when we dream about travel or we dream about whatever, I feel like there's this script that exists in the world that's like, oh, that's cool, but we don't have the money to do it. And I'm like, oh, we've never had the money to do it ever. But because everything else is gone and stripped down, our needs are so small that it makes it work for us. So I rarely hear my kids, my older 2 who are now 2018, when they think about traveling or they wanna go do something, they don't make a ton of money, but their script is like, oh, there's a way if we simplify everything, there's a way we can make this work, and they'll just go out and do it. And I love seeing, them figure out ways where life can work for them Mhmm.

Lauren Ferrara: And where their dreams are super possible because they've figured out how to strip it down to what really matters to them. Oh, I love that. And your husband, Don, said something that resonated with me so much. And he was like, we have so much. Like, when you think of human history, like, all of us, we have so much.

It's like warm water, and we can make coffee at our house, and all, like, all these little things that, like, would have been hard a 100 years ago Yeah. Or 50 years ago. And, yeah, we we do have so much even when it doesn't feel like we do. So I love I love the I'm an aspiring minimalist. And and thanks to you, basically, because you guys inspire me so much.

So how'd you guys decide on the tiny house? So is was that part of the minimalism?

Carly Ries: We that was kind of an accident. So we set out traveling with the goal of, like, okay. He'll do some writing. We'll check out some coffee shops, interview some owners, see what's out there in hopes of gathering some ideas. Because we had owned some coffee shops, but we had never had the opportunity to start a coffee shop from the ground up for it to be really what we dreamed of.

We'd always taken over existing shops. And so there was 2 competing ideas. We'd walk into a shop. Like, there's one called, Spyglass that's in California, and it's stunning and beautiful and big and gorgeous. And we'd be like, we wanna do something beautiful like this.

And then there's a spot called Tandem in Maine that we'd walk into, and there's, like, seating for 5, and it's 1 guy running it, his dream, and we'd be like, we wanna do that. That's us. And so there was these two things that felt diametrically opposed to each other, and we didn't know how to reconcile those things. And one day, we were actually at my parents' around Christmas time, and I walked down the stairs to where our bedroom was, and Don was there, and he's like, I figured out our next move. I was like, say more.

Tell me. And he said, it's a tiny house because the tiny house movement specializes in beauty, and it specializes in elegance, and because it's in a small space, it's affordable and easy. And one of our big debates was, or one of our questions, curiosities, I would say, is can we do just coffee, which is what we love, without having to become a restaurant and without having to be a bar? Because those things aren't things we're passionate about.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm. Can

Carly Ries: we do just what we love and be able to feed our family? And so the tiny house in the end was a grand experiment of if we reduce overhead, if we make something beautiful that can be in a community but also really simple, Can we run run our life simply, close early, not have to make decisions based on huge overheads that we have to meet, and kinda craft the life we want? So and when you came to Colorado Springs 10 years ago and opened the tiny house right by it was by the skating rink

Lauren Ferrara: at the time. And that's that's when we met. I came in and, had to go to the bathroom. And there was no bathroom in your tiny house. I had my baby in her car seat at the time.

And I was like, hey. Will you guys watch this baby real quick? And I hopped the fence to go use the bathroom at the skating rink in a dress before I went to work, and then we became friends.

Carly Ries: That's perfect. Well and you were asking, like, can we do this? Remind me how many times you've been closed since your opening?

Carly Ries: We've been open every day since opening.

Lauren Ferrara: That's what

Carly Ries: I thought.

Lauren Ferrara: Monster snowstorms, that's Christmas Day, that's COVID. You guys kind of crushed it during COVID.

Carly Ries: Yeah. We were able to because it was simple and because we

Carly Ries: had a walk up window,

Carly Ries: we were able to just close indoor seating. People were able to come. And on Christmas Day for our family, it kind of became a great tradition where we opened late. So we opened at 8 or 9 on Christmas Day, and we closed around 3. But we would do our family traditions at home, and then all 4 of us would go over and hang out in the park together.

We'd take chessboards and play and talk to people coming in who mourn with their families for the holidays and just spend time together. So it as opposed to I think sometimes people are like, come on. You should close on Christmas. But for us, it wound up being something that was a really special

Lauren Ferrara: And it was, like, all your regulars. I mean, my family has come in our Christmas pajamas before. Yeah. Like, the I think we've come every Christmas day because after we do the whole presents and relax and food, then we're like, let's go to Story Coffee. Yeah.

Carly Ries: I look like a deer in headlights right now? Because I, like, feel like I'm looking at you right now, and I'm like, I wanna be you. Right. So if I'm, like, in a daze or something looking at you, I'm just like so I mean, maybe your husband has a crush on the baker. Now I have a girl crush.

Lauren Ferrara: I'm looking this mesmerized. But I have a I have a one time you guys did I think it was your 5 year anniversary or 5 year anniversary of the business being opened. Yeah. And you did this, what's your best story coffee story? And I was like, well, just go ahead and give me the prize because I win.

And it was so it was, gosh, almost 7 years ago. I went into labor on Christmas day that morning. My my baby wasn't due till mid January, and my mother-in-law, we were FaceTiming with her, and she goes, do you think baby Ferrara might come early? She said that and my water broke. Oh my gosh.

Couple weeks early. And and then I went to store a coffee. On our way to the hospital, Joe and I were like, hey. We're having a baby. And Don looked a little panicked and he was like, okay.

So you wanted to go? And I was like, now I want to sit down and enjoy my coffee. Because then after I go to the hospital and I leave the hospital, I will have 2 kids except I have 2 baby. So, no, I'm just gonna chill here for probably a while. And we sat down there and just, like, enjoyed being a family of 3 for one more hour.

Oh, that's awesome. Really, such a special day. And then, as you know, like, Claire ended up in the NICU for a couple of days, like, Siri couple of days. And you guys and all the regulars, like, it was just this wave of love and support coming from my friends at Story Coffee and the people that I would see every morning having having coffee. So it's like Story will always be special to me for that reason and many, many more.

Carly Ries: I know I know I'm biased since it's our podcast, but this is why we wanted to do this kind of a show because it's seen story copy downtown. Like, it's like it looks cool. It's a tiny house. It's cool. It's like at the heart of the city.

But you would never know. I mean, you you go to your website, I guess, and read your story. But how many people go to coffee shop websites when they can just grab a cup? And I just I hope this sinks in with people because this your story is just incredible. And I'm just so happy that we got you guys, and and then another city didn't.

Yes.

Carly Ries: Of all the places. Right? Yes.

Lauren Ferrara: Of all the places. So was it about Colorado Springs that you were like, this is it. This is where we are going to

Carly Ries: put our tiny house coffee shop? So it started partially with for me being in the mountains is a nonnegotiable.

Lauren Ferrara: I grew

Carly Ries: up in Montana, and you can get 2 mountains in Oregon, but we homeschool, and and in 5 minutes, I can have my kids hiking. So that's a a really big deal. And then logistically, we had to be a day's drive to both of our parents. And so there's a few logistical things, but we came back through actually to just visit some friends and went over to the principal's office for coffee one morning. And it was a super cool spot.

And one of our critiques previously of Colorado Springs, why we thought we probably wouldn't move back from 21 years ago, was that it felt like Colorado Springs was a really divided city from hyper conservatives who hated the liberals, and then the hyper liberals who hated the conservatives, and the people that live in the middle that are like, I bet if we led with our name, we'd probably get along pretty good. Like, if we just introduced ourselves, we probably have a lot in common. It felt like 20 years ago, that didn't exist.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: And so it didn't really feel like a place that could be home Mhmm. For especially for me for me and, you know, raising kids, whatever. When we came back through that middle ground of people, that just felt like, oh, I bet we're all pretty good people, had grown so big and expansively. So it felt like the environment physically

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: Is just an attractive place no matter what.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: But the environment, human to human wise, feel like it had expanded into this really beautiful welcoming place. Yeah. And it felt like a place like, oh, yeah. No. This is a good spot to have my kids.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. I could not agree more because I feel like people that don't live here,

Carly Ries: they're like, oh, isn't it crazy conservative?

Lauren Ferrara: You know? And I'm like, not in not in my experience. Like, the people I spend my time with, yeah, kinda live where you do and have open minds and, yeah, kind of live in the middle, I guess. And there's a lot more of that than I think we get credit for. Totally.

So I have a very important question. Yes.

Carly Ries: What is your go to drink when you go to a coffee shop? Oh, cappuccino. Oh, yeah.

Lauren Ferrara: Whole milk or, whole milk or oat milk? Whole milk.

Carly Ries: Lots of that. Generally, whole milk, but I've recently started getting it with half and half.

Lauren Ferrara: Oh. Oh. That sounds delicious. Oh.

Carly Ries: It tastes like soft serve ice cream, but, like, melted down. It's you should try it. Uh-huh.

Lauren Ferrara: Well, it was funny. You guys you guys led me to cappuccinos because my drink before when I started coming to story was a latte with a drop and literally a drop of honey. And I could only get it at story because everybody else thought I meant, like, a dollop. And, and you guys nailed it every single time. And then I asked Dawn one time, I was like, what's your drink?

I want to drink what you drink. And he said he said a cappuccino. Like, it doesn't get better than cappuccino. And now I am a cappuccino drinker and an aspiring minimalist because of you guys.

Carly Ries: Yeah. And so we when we started getting involved years ago in coffee competitions, a cappuccino is a drink that was, was served. So the baristas had to serve a straight espresso, a cappuccino, and then they got to get creative with whatever drink they wanted. And so the cappuccino was the way to evaluate a shop. Yes.

Plus, it's just so good. So we were kind of trained that way in all of our trainings. And then you can't go wrong with it.

Lauren Ferrara: I hate going to a coffee shop and you ask for a cappuccino and they ask you

Carly Ries: what size?

Lauren Ferrara: Yes. I'm like, oh, never mind. Never mind. My cappuccinos are the same size. I'll just have a black coffee, please.

Carly Ries: Out in Portland, we asked, we asked somebody. We're like, okay. We'd love we'd love to get a cappuccino and a macchiato. And they said, absolutely. Now just to be clear, if you were making that, what would you make?

And we were like I was like, just drip coffee, actually.

Lauren Ferrara: And my husband was like, yeah.

Carly Ries: We're good with drip. We're fine.

Lauren Ferrara: So what is the strangest conversation you have ever overheard? Ask. Or you don't have to name names.

Carly Ries: Oh, easy. It was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in one of my shops. And so people, I think, who who with our with our tiny house location, who know that we're a tiny house or who have been there before knows there's not much seating.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: And we don't have Internet. We don't have, you know, those sort of things because we try and prioritize people having a moment Yes. You know, with each other or on their own. But whoever this person was, I think thought, saw, like, oh, cool coffee shop. I should go there for a blind date.

And so they did. And the fella came in first and got his coffee and sat down at the table closest to I was the barista, closest to me, which is, like, 4 feet away from me. And then, eventually, his date comes in, gets a drink, and also sits at that table. And there's so I mean, there's a whole park. But instead, it's just me and this couple on their 1st flight date.

I'm in a tiny house. Like, I don't have a corner to go around

Lauren Ferrara: to pretend to do dishes.

Carly Ries: And it was not a successful mind date. Like, it was one of those awkward they kept trying. Oh. And I just wanted to be like, hey. Do you need somebody to call this for you?

Like, it's never gonna work. Y'all should just drink your coffee faster and go home. Like this is not going well. It was so uncomfortable. And anytime she would try and make a joke he would like, not understand.

Or he would say something. It was terrible, and it lasted almost an hour. Meanwhile, it was just me because it was when we were pretty new.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: And so we didn't have a ton of customers, and the whole thing was just a mess.

Carly Ries: Well, and so to piggyback off of awkwardness and weirdness, what's the weirdest concoction somebody has asked you to make?

Carly Ries: Oh, we so we've purposely kept our menu super simple. And so there isn't a whole lot of room. Occasionally, we'll get asked I I had a moment where and we train our staff like this too. If somebody wants something, just clarify with what it is and make it. Right?

Like, if you've got the stuff, make what they want. And somebody got real upset with me one time when they kept trying to order an iced hot chocolate, and I really wanted to make them what they wanted. So I kept saying, so basically, the chocolate, and then the milk. And instead of steaming it, you want it cold over ice. Is that correct?

And they just kept saying, I want an iced hot chocolate. So I was like, are you looking for steamed and hot? They're like, that'd be gross. I'm like, yes, we agree. I just don't know.

Lauren Ferrara: You want chocolate milk?

Carly Ries: Yeah. Exactly. Iced chocolate milk. But I think that's offensive. And they left with nothing and very upset.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. So what's a little known fact about Story Coffee?

Carly Ries: One of the little known facts, I think, is that we that the whole thing was kind of a giant accident. When we started building this tiny house coffee shop, we had never seen anything like it. We've seen food trucks, but nothing where you can come in and sit down where it's an actual walk in cafe. And so we didn't know if people would say yes to that or not. So we built this whole thing, not knowing if we would ever have a place to put it, or if anybody would ever let us.

So the whole time our backup plan was that it would be our new house because it was bigger than the RV. So we were like, this is like twice the square footage. If this doesn't work out, we'll

Carly Ries: put in a loft, we had the whole plan for how

Carly Ries: it would become our home. If we didn't have a place to put it, then we got to Colorado Springs. And we were looking at different parking lots. And while we were meeting with somebody about a parking lot to potentially put it in, we wound up meeting with a woman from downtown partnership. Nice.

And she actually said, hey, if you're open to it, maybe you'd consider just doing a soft open at the park. To that point, we're like, yes. Anywhere. That sounds great. And, that began the journey of Colorado Springs continuing to invite us to be

Lauren Ferrara: in that space. So every now and again, I've run into you or Dawn at another coffee shop. And it feels so weird. Like, I'm like, woah. You're here, not at your coffee shop.

And I'm here, not at your coffee shop. I feel like when you were a little kid and you saw your teacher at the grocery store or something where you're like It just so gives you. Yes. I know. So where if you were gonna get a coffee, not from Story Coffee, where's your go to?

Carly Ries: Oh, that's a good question. I find myself a lot at Switchback Hillside, specifically because I can get a coffee, I can meet with a friend, and we can have our coffee in ceramic, which is my favorite. I don't like taking coffee to go while our kids play in the back. And we can have a moment and our kids can have a moment.

Lauren Ferrara: Yes. It is so it is perfect spot for that. I love that. Well, some other things I adore about many, many things I adore about story. Your avocado toast.

I know that you didn't wanna get into the food game and it took, you know, 9 years, 8 years for you to make this happen. Yeah. Your avocado toast is the best avocado toast in town and it's $8. Not like $17 where you get this, like, avocado spread. It is perfection.

And their pop tarts. Oh, I love Pop Tarts. Are so good too. Thank you. Pop Tarts Tuesday is, like, another special moment in my family's life because that was I mean, if I said it was Tuesday, they were like, Pop Tarts Tuesday.

And we'd go before school or after school, have our Pop Tarts, and they are not the Pop Tarts you're thinking of. If you bought Pop Tarts at the grocery store, then you're not those Pop Tarts. Tell us about the Pop Tarts.

Carly Ries: So years ago, we had this idea to start something special once a week. Week. And the idea of pop tarts were great. They were kinda trendy at the time, and we had a baker, and we were like, what do you think about doing those? And so she rolled them out for us.

And for us, pop tart Tuesday remains special because my 3rd daughter was born on a Tuesday, a pop tart Tuesday, and she came very quickly. So my husband still calls her pop tart. That's her name. And, every every year on her birthday, that's what we have for our birthday treat first thing in the morning.

Lauren Ferrara: So you guys also have a ridiculous loyalty program, which I love. So every buy 10 drinks, you get one free. And then it's also, you are you still doing free cap Friday?

Carly Ries: We are. Yes. We love free

Lauren Ferrara: cap Friday. And it's funny because there's been times, so if you spend I think it's $4, you could you get a free cappuccino.

Carly Ries: So if

Lauren Ferrara: you buy a scone, you can get a free cappuccino. And there's been times I've come on Wednesday and thinking it's Friday. And I was like, oh, are you not doing it anymore? And they're like, yes. But it's Wednesday, Lauren.

So sorry for that kind of week. So and then years so when we moved away from downtown, we moved south southwest, it was like a hard decision because I was like, we are moving away. We won't be able to walk to Story Coffee anymore. Like, this was a hard decision, and this is an extension of my living room. Like, my life will not be the same if you are not a block away from me.

And then you opened another and I feel like it was I know it wasn't for me, but the hell it was for me. Like, there's the West Side Story, essentially, on Colorado Avenue, which is closer to where I live, which is fabulous. How do you like having the 2 spaces?

Carly Ries: We have loved it. For us, it was a tricky, a tricky decision to make in some ways. And part of that is because when we have the tiny house, people would always come in and ask us if we were ever gonna when we were gonna open a real shop, which always makes me laugh. And we were like, as opposed to this make believe one

Lauren Ferrara: you're standing in right now.

Carly Ries: Like, what do you mean? But for us, that was our experiment in keeping things really simple. So people would always ask us, like, why don't you stay open later? And our answer was, because we wanna have dinner with our kids. Yeah.

Lauren Ferrara: We don't want to. Yeah.

Carly Ries: And we don't wanna do all that. So for us, a second space was a little bit trickier to in that way of, like, okay, this this does change. Like, right now, we run a tiny house that can run with 2 people at the most.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: If everything goes crazy in the world, we can give our girls some coloring books, and Dawn and I can run or, you know, we have 2 daughters that have worked at story for a long time. Mhmm. 2 of us can run the shop, and we can make a go of it that way. Right? Because there's been a few times in life where you're like, what's fixing to happen?

We were always like, well, at least we can figure this out.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: But our friends, Ryan and Valerie Lloyd, bought the space we're in right now, which is fantastic, with this goal of having a space for the community that really brings out beauty. And they talked to us about wanting to open a coffee shop here. We had actually just moved to this neighborhood. And, so in that way, it was easy because throwing in with people that wanna bring beauty to spaces and not for the goal of getting more, but for the goal of offering something. Mhmm.

When somebody wants you to throw in on that, that feels like a pretty easy yes. So it was easy in some ways, and we were excited. It was a little tricky, but the community's been great, and we've grown and been able to hire staff to where our life still we still get to be home around the dinner table with our kids.

Lauren Ferrara: Nice. And I keep trying to convince you guys to because we spend a lot of time in Summit County in the mountains, and there's they're lacking in coffee shops up there. And I'll say to Don, I'm like, when are you gonna open a place in Summit County? And he's like, it's not gonna be me. Never.

And I'm like, I wish they could really use a story coffee. Yep. Just

Carly Ries: like, hard no. We get asked that of here and there where people are like, hey. We're thinking about this, and we're like, nope. Because there's in life, right, there's 2 ways to get what you want in life. There's to go out and work super hard and do all these things and get it, or there's to want less.

And our family is really good at wanting less.

Lauren Ferrara: I love that. You want the right things

Carly Ries: out. Your priorities are so on point.

Carly Ries: Thank you. It feels it feels right for our family. So when we're having having staff meetings, talking to them, we're like, we have no desire to grow. I mean, wholesale accounts, sure. Helping people get set up and helping them, great.

But as far as building some empire, we'll leave that to

Lauren Ferrara: I love that. We'll leave

Carly Ries: that to be able to help. Yeah.

Lauren Ferrara: And I have the time and space for what really matters. And I think that is so cool.

Carly Ries: Yes. And Lauren, I'm just so happy you decided to bring her on the show today.

Lauren Ferrara: This Oh, yeah. It was obvious. I was like, Carissa must be our first guest.

Carly Ries: Oh. Yes. And we just so appreciate you taking the time.

Lauren Ferrara: Yes. Thank you. Well, now we have to talk about our pick of the week. And this is something we're gonna do every week where what are we doing this weekend?

Carly Ries: So if you guys haven't heard of the lunacy, it's going on at the Pillow Boat Art Theater. We went last year and we had seen that actor at another show in like a circus at the venue. I had never seen my husband laugh hard enough from what this actor can do. And I was in the circus balloonacy. I don't wanna give anything away.

I actually knew nothing about it when we went to it last year and was so pleasantly surprised. So if you are looking for an awesome show for you, for your kids, for anybody, go check out Baloonesi at the Millibaugh Art Theater, and that's the mat.org. Just themat.org.

Lauren Ferrara: And I love all of their shows. And, yeah, the folks that run it, it is a special, special place. And it's a delightful show. I saw it last year as well. I love it.

Carly Ries: Carissa, do you have a pick of the week?

Carly Ries: Yes. So Downtown Partnership always does a shop local the Saturday after. Small Business Saturday, downtown. But this year, they're opening that up a couple weeks early. Oh.

And so on November 23rd from 11 to 4, they're doing a small business shop small event, and they'll have Colorado brass as well as some kaler carolers downtown Cool. Walking around, offering music up for people. And then, during that time between now December, I believe it's 4th, any $50 spent cumulatively at downtown organizations, there's a way on, on their website that you can upload those receipts and get entered in a chance to win a $150 gift card or their grand prize of a $1,000 gift card for shopping downtown before the holidays.

Lauren Ferrara: That's awesome. And, yeah, I I love I don't love that frenzy right after the after Thanksgiving. Like, just buy what you need when you need it. And, like, it doesn't have to be on this one day. So that's very cool.

Yeah. Get ready. That money stays stays right here in Colorado Springs. So, thank you for being our first guest.

Carly Ries: Thank you.

Carly Ries: And I knew you 2

Lauren Ferrara: would hit it off because you are kindred spirits in so many ways.

Carly Ries: I feel like I zoned out for, like, the last half of this segment because I was just like, I just think you're so cool, and I wanna hear all the stories. So And we didn't even

Lauren Ferrara: get this is another podcast for another time, but Chris is also a doula. You were the first you knew I was pregnant with my second child before I told my husband. So speaking of, we were talking about, like, the strangest conversate. Like, I just came in. I was like, Chris, I have to tell you something.

Hey. I was like, because I was just so shocked and yeah. And it was just such a wonderful space and person to be able to share that special news with.

Carly Ries: Everybody knows your

Lauren Ferrara: day. Yes. Exactly. Also, thank you for being here. And if you like this podcast, and I hope you do, we would love for you to subscribe and leave a 5 star review.

Share it with a friend. That way more people can hear it and listen to it. And and and then more people can share the stuff they love about Colorado Springs with us, and then we can do other podcasts about it. So super, super excited.

Carly Ries: Yes. We would so appreciate it, and we will see you next week.

Episode Transcript:

Carly Ries: Lauren, we just had the best night at Bristol Brewery doing a tasting with Mike and Amanda Bristol as well as some other wonderful people from the community. And I just loved it because even though we talked for the first time at a birthday party, we hung out for the first time at Ivy Wild, and

Lauren Ferrara: it was just such a full circle moment. It was our first date. And, gosh, that was such a fun night. And I learned so much about couple organizations in our community, how much support they've gotten from this give back mixed pack. But before we dive into that, welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where 2 close friends spill the tea on all things Colorado Springs.

From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we've got you covered. I'm Lauren Ferrara.

Carly Ries: And I'm Carly Rees. We'll sip our coffee and our beer in this case and dive into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. So whether you're a local or just passing through, we hope our fun, lighthearted, and entertaining take will keep you coming back for more.

Lauren Ferrara: Carly, we're talking about this give back mix pack. It's a 4th edition of this mix pack, 12 pack of benefit beers, but they've been doing this for about 16 years and donating, get this, 100% of the profits from this 12 pack to 3 local organizations.

Carly Ries: Lauren, during that time, they've donated a total of $790,000. And the 3 the 3 organizations that have benefited are Venetucci Farms, which if you're a kid that's grown up here or have kids, that name should sound very familiar.

Lauren Ferrara: Mhmm.

Carly Ries: The Friends of Cheyenne Canyon as well as Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts. We even did a little taste test with them during the interview to see if they can tell the difference between their beer and another person's beer, and the results may surprise you.

Lauren Ferrara: They shocked the hell out of me, Carly. It was so fun.

Carly Ries: We also, debunked some myths about Bristol and Ivy Wild as a whole. Like, do you think it's haunted? I mean, I guess we'll hear Mike's take on it, as well as so many other things. I kinda feel like we should just get into the interview because people wanna hear them, Mike and Amanda, talk more than they wanna hear us talk probably. 100%.

Let's dive into the It is so fascinating. But before we get into the interview, we gotta talk about our sponsor.

Lauren Ferrara: Ugh, Core Collective, you have my heart. They are a reformer Pilates studio in downtown Colorado Springs, and they offer a variety of classes. They have the coolest instructors. They have the most supportive community. And Carly, now can I call you a regular now?

Because you have been there quite a bit lately.

Carly Ries: I mean, sure. Why not? Call me that. People can't see us right now, but my hair is currently plastered to my face because we're recording this after class. And it was so fun.

I brought my husband, and he's an endurance athlete. He's training for the Ascent. He's training for a century bike ride, and he was huffing and puffing. And so why is it it's so good for your core that it'll help these other activities. So so many people think it's 4 women.

He had such a great workout. We're going back tomorrow. It was awesome.

Lauren Ferrara: Love it. I'll see you there. Well, they have this great deal for springs and things listeners. If you type out springs and things, then you have to put and, a n d, not the little and symbol. Or what do you call that?

Carly, you know the actual word for the and symbol.

Carly Ries: Ampersstamp? Ampersstamp?

Lauren Ferrara: I had never heard that until recently. Like the and symbol. Anyway, springs and things gets you an amazing deal. It's $30 for 3 classes, and you go to corecollectivecos.com to make it happen. And then you too will be a regular just like Carly and her husband and me.

Carly Ries: Oh, yes. And Lauren, of course. And you guys, without further ado, please enjoy our interview with Mike and Amanda Bristol. Okay, you 2. So before we begin, I just have to say I got a little emotional last night, and it it's just because you guys have created so much more than just a brewery.

It's almost like you're a community builder that happens to sell beer. What's up? You've just created this space and the way that people talk about you when you're not around, because we do talk about the bristles when you're not around, it's just nothing but positive comments. Just you give so much to the area you live in, to this city of Colorado Springs. And so I not only wanna say thank you for coming on the show, but just thank you for being you and for everything that you've created.

It's just wonderful.

Amanda Bristol: Well, thank you so much. That's just what a great way to start,

Carly Ries: this podcast. We really, really appreciate that. Well, of course. And it just goes I'm sorry. Go ahead.

Lauren Ferrara: No. We do appreciate it. But we also feel like we're part of a greater community that, you know, we're it's not just us. We're we've got we're doing we're working with a lot of great people to do what we have to do. So

Carly Ries: And you're humble too. You guys, that just that just adds to what I was just saying. And it just ties in so nicely to everything we wanna talk about today. Your, give back mix pack, which you also have in front of you and we'll talk about that in a second, a 100% of the profits go to these local organizations which is just incredible. So I want to dive into each of these but for listeners who are not sitting with us right now, Mike and Amanda have 6 beers in front of them right now cups of beer.

And as we talk through each of these, they are going to sip their beer as well as an unidentified one. They don't know which is which, and they're going to see if they can tell which beer is theirs and which is a kind of competitor, which nothing really compares to your beer. We'll call them competitors for, like, for, ease of this conversation. So the first round you have is the pumpkin ale for Benedictine Farm. So feel free to just sip casually between those 2, get a good flavor.

I'm gonna ask you some questions, but just sip away and we'll enjoy it. But how did you 2 get associated with Benettucci, and what like, why does it mean so much to you?

Lauren Ferrara: Well, I think, we being in the community, we certainly knew about the the legacy of Nick and Bambi, Benettucci and the pumpkin giveaway. But really what got us drawn in was during the time when, they were in the process of turning the farm over. They didn't have any heirs and they wanted to donate the farm. And so Michael Hannigan at the time was the, executive director of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation. And so he worked with Nick and Bambi, to get that done.

And then he, at the same time, he was looking at what could this be for the community. You know, we have this asset, but what what is this going to be? And he just invited some people from the community that he thought would have some creative ideas. And and, for whatever reason, I was on that list, so I got to go out there and and kind of see the farm in a different way. And the whole community was just kind of trying to reimagine that.

And and so we realized that well, maybe this is there's something here that we could we could really help get this process going. And that's really where the idea for the beer came from too.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Well, I mean, just everything that they do. And, I mean, they've been through so much over the past decade or so.

Lauren Ferrara: But, they they stuck with it.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. Just all in.

Lauren Ferrara: We were supportive of it. So

Amanda Bristol: all in on on the concept of, oh my gosh, you know, the Vinatucci's leaving this legacy and all that that has meant to Colorado Springs, all of its, all of its time as, you know, as a farm and all that it meant for the pumpkin giveaway and and I I was just so impressed by their generosity. We're gonna give the city this, you know, this land and we want to make sure that it it stays in perpetuity, it doesn't get developed, that it stays a farm. And, I was just to me, I was thrilled that that Mike was invited to come to that, you know, community event that Michael Hanigan put on to say, let's brainstorm some ideas of we've been given this, you know. And so I think that doesn't just go away because the farm starts having trouble, you know. And they even ask you to be a part of, you know, sort of the the conversations around what it could be, what what changes might might come about to be able to still use it as a farm.

We were we even were part of the CSA that where they grew the vegetables and, you know, before they had to stop. We just we just love the whole what it what it is, what it means to the to the community now and what it has always meant with little kids growing up and becoming adults and wanting to bring their kids there.

Carly Ries: That's one of the things we're talking about is I went when I was a kid, then there was a generation, let's say 15, 20 years ago that went, and then the generation now, it's just such a fixture in the community, and they've just evolved it. And it's still just so incredible. I can't believe was it 1500 pumpkins that they gave to kindergarteners last year?

Amanda Bristol: I think that's what they said. Maybe that this year and not this year. Yeah. I think that's

Lauren Ferrara: I don't remember the number, but it's a lot. Yeah. That

Carly Ries: is huge. And for kindergarteners, just having that image of them carrying the biggest pumpkin they can possibly find back to the bus. Right. Right.

Amanda Bristol: It's just such a good visual,

Carly Ries: and it's something that so many kids in this city have experienced. And I I agree. It's just it's such a fixture in this town. Mhmm. And I'm I'm so glad you've supported it, and I kinda wanna talk about the beer.

Can I be candid with you for a second?

Lauren Ferrara: Sure.

Carly Ries: I'm I'm not usually a pumpkin ale kinda gal, a pumpkin beer kinda gal. I love yours. Oh, good. I mean, the other ones kinda get too syrupy. I don't know if you have had that experience as well.

Yours isn't it's subtle. It's delicious. I can't wait to put it in my fridge. It's actually the the ones that I poured for you today are from my fridge because we couldn't wait to grab them. I I don't think I'm alone in saying this.

You guys have had quite the popularity with this. Right?

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. It it it was, it it was definitely a big thing, and and I like the way you tell the story, Mike, about, you know, pumpkin nails not really being a thing back then.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. Back when we did it, there weren't a lot of them and and, you know, full disclosure for me, I'm not a pumpkin ale person either. I rarely drink them outside of ours for the same reason. I just there other breweries interpretations of them just aren't kind of what I was looking for. But, I do like ours, and and a lot of people like it, and so we're we're proud of it.

But I think also the the big distinctor is that distinction is that we're using real pumpkins in it, and I I I do think that matters. I mean, I think there's there there are probably other reasons as well, but I think that is a big part of what sets

Carly Ries: it apart. Puree or a syrup or anything.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. It is. A lot more work, which is why nobody else does it. And we do it on a limited basis. If we were if we were cranking out thousands and thousands of cases every year, it would be a lot more difficult.

But

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. But it's a fun thing for our staff to do when we when the we get the pumpkins. You know, we used to

Carly Ries: get them from the Natucci Farm, but after the issues with water, we, started getting them from Smith Farms, and they're just over

Amanda Bristol: in Rocky Ford. And, still love that there are local pumpkins and, they're delivered here and our staff, you know, we all get together and we're gutting them, we're cutting them, we're roasting them, and it's just kind of a a day we can all come together, and and do that. And everyone knows that it's going for a good cause, and you just love to to have your staff kind of want to participate in something like that. And it's that's been great for us, and and it really is. I mean, I feel like the popularity just you know, what a what a great way to welcome in the fall and to do something good, for a local fixture.

And as I have mentioned before, you know, I've been in the grocery store and had the checkers say, oh, you're you're a Bristol. I just love that pumpkin nail. And I went there as a kid and I just appreciate what you're doing for the farm. And, you know, there's nothing like that to make to remind you that you're a part of something bigger and that other people care about this too.

Carly Ries: Amanda, you said that people have cared so much that not only you have been approached to get the pumpkin, but your your son when he was a child. Yes. Who is he approached by?

Amanda Bristol: Well, there is a story that he was approached in the halls of his elementary school by one of his teachers.

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, go unnamed.

Amanda Bristol: Yes. Yes. Yes. But we did love this teacher, so it was all good. But, and she probably knew that we would get a kick out of it, but, he was pulled aside in the hallway and and she said, hey, can you think you can, ask your parents to get me some of that pumpkin ale?

Because I can't get my hands on it, you know. And, he was like, well, I'll ask. Sure. You know? And he came

Carly Ries: home and he mentioned it

Amanda Bristol: to us, and we just laughed so hard. Yeah. And we got

Lauren Ferrara: And we knew the teacher. I mean, it was that's what made it funny.

Amanda Bristol: Yes. Absolutely. And and we definitely were happy to pull some aside for her.

Carly Ries: Well, then you know what to get the teacher for teachers gift. Yeah. Exactly. On the holidays. It makes it easy.

Exactly. Well, okay, you 2. I need to ask, have you tasted the 2 pumpkins, and have you decided which one is yours Yes. And which one is not? I think I know.

Alright.

Lauren Ferrara: I hope I know because I like one of them a lot better than the other one.

Carly Ries: Alright. Mike, which one is Bristol?

Lauren Ferrara: I would like to think that the right one is Bristol.

Carly Ries: Alright. Let's see if you're right.

Amanda Bristol: You are correct. That was my guess too. Yeah.

Carly Ries: Oh, you see it today now.

Amanda Bristol: My right one is a

Carly Ries: Theirs is correct. And I did mix them up, so you guys may not always Oh, I like the math. You might not match.

Amanda Bristol: That's fair enough. Yeah. Okay. I just, what I noticed the difference I noticed was just the spicing seems to be different. There was a there was a spice in the other one that just wasn't familiar to me.

It wasn't the same one. And I don't know I don't know what it is. I haven't identified it. Yeah. It might be,

Carly Ries: cinnamon? Can you that might make sense.

Lauren Ferrara: That's top secret.

Carly Ries: Yeah. We can't know. No. Bad deal. Well, so let's move on to Pinion Nut Brown that supports Friends of Cheyenne Canyon.

Why did you get involved with this organization? Mike, I know you were very closely involved for a long time outside of the

Lauren Ferrara: brewery. Yeah. Since we live in in that part of town, I mean, one of the things that we love about Colorado Springs and, is is access to trails and certainly, Shine Canyon is the kind of the the greatest of of all of them in my mind around here. And, the fact that you can live kind of close to that is really a wonderful thing. So as I think just we as users, you know, we we're out there all the time.

I think, well, we we really should participate in this in some way. And so I think it might have started doing just a couple of trail cleanup days or something, or I know that we we would go out and do the canyon cleanup with the with the group and then they sort of drafted me to be on the board. And we did some back then, we we did some really, really cool stuff, you know, I mean, working with the city, doing trail, a lot of trail work, but, that was the era when, there was a part of the board put together the proposal for the, listing for the National Register of Historic Places and did all the research on, those those stone bridges and a lot of the the pieces in the park. So that was really interesting to me. And we had we had one person on the board at that point that that's what she did was, like, write grant proposals and that sort of thing.

So, so it's not just about trails. There's a lot of great programs for kids too. A lot of educational programs.

Amanda Bristol: And a couple of festivals. Honeywell Festival. Yeah. Canyon Canyon.

Lauren Ferrara: So, you know, I I think it's it's just been a great group, and it's such a again, I mean, it's it's different, but similar to Venetucci. It's such a community asset to have this city park that is when you think of a city park and you think of swing sets and grass, and and this is more like a national park. I mean, it's it's just gorgeous. So to have that and and sort of to to be able to steward that, is is an important piece. And and the city doesn't always have the resources to do everything that needs to be done.

And so, I think we as a community have a responsibility to get involved in that sort of thing.

Carly Ries: That's what I was gonna say. I think people assume that just so much money gets poured into

Lauren Ferrara: the price. Yeah.

Carly Ries: And that's why it's so important that you raise this money because that simply isn't true. We need an extra boost. And, I mean, I think we were they were saying that people compare us to Sedona for like the amount of space that we have and that's just not true. We have more space. We have 6 100 acres.

And they just do so much for the community. So I wanna dive into the beer itself. I don't know if you guys have taste tested. No. It's the pinion nut brown.

Alright. True or false? You roast your own nuts on for this beer?

Amanda Bristol: Yes. Yeah. We do. I mean, I posted a picture a couple of years ago on our, Instagram with Mike with a big cookie sheet in our kitchen, you know, with covered in peanuts. Our brewer also, roasts some of them.

We split it up because there's so many, and we've got other people on staff that's will will will do that as well. And, yeah, it's just part of you know, all the all the beers in this mix pack are, have a kind of a uniqueness to them, each one of them. And so the pinion nuts just I mean, how perfectly does that relate back to Cheyenne Canyon, with pinion pines? And, so it it it it's all of this is a labor of love, you know, and so it's cool.

Carly Ries: Well, Mike, you said something fascinating. You said that you may not taste the nut, but you would notice if it wasn't there.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. That's that's that's my opinion of of the way that recipe is sort of formulated is the the nuts do give it sort of a a roundness and a and a character that they wouldn't have, but but it's not something that I would expect anyone to sort of pick out.

Carly Ries: Okay. Well, since I I have you 1 on 1 right now, so I'm gonna take this opportunity to ask the the pro. With wine, you're supposed to swirl it around and, like, oh, it's such an oaky flavor or whatever you say. Is there a way to get the most flavor out of a beer? Is there a trick?

Lauren Ferrara: Well, there's not really a trick, but I think the one thing that is very important that a lot of people miss, is the the the smell of the beer is a huge part of the experience. And so I always encourage people to pour it in a glass, you know, even if if you're drinking it if it's from a bottle or a can, and, you know, granted, I don't do it all the time. If I'm on a hike and I have a can of beer, I'm just gonna crack it open and enjoy it, but you do miss a lot of the flavor if you don't, if you don't have it in a glass, because that that smell is is part of that flavor. And so a lot some of the things with tasting wine are similar. I mean, certainly putting your nose in there and really, really getting it.

And and by swirling it a little bit, you break some of that c o two out so that you get a little bit more of that aroma. We try not to be as snooty as the white wine people, but, you know I

Carly Ries: had to ask, though. He loves he loves to say that at a beer dinner. He's like, we're not spitting any of this out. Yeah. Yeah.

Lauren Ferrara: We do we do drink the beer. We don't just taste it.

Carly Ries: Well, speaking of spitting any of it out, which one is yours and which one is not?

Amanda Bristol: This is a harder one for me.

Lauren Ferrara: It is a little bit harder. Yeah. Do you wanna

Carly Ries: I I sent an expert to figure out the competition. So

Lauren Ferrara: I mean, I have a guess, but do you wanna go first?

Amanda Bristol: I'm gonna taste this one more time.

Carly Ries: I don't know. Let me stop you.

Lauren Ferrara: If I'm wrong, it's not terrible.

Amanda Bristol: Gonna guess the one on the left here is ours. You are correct.

Carly Ries: Whoo. Whoo. Amanda got it. Oh my gosh. I have no pressure.

Lauren Ferrara: So would that be left on mine too?

Carly Ries: Not necessarily. I switched them up.

Lauren Ferrara: I feel like it is. I would guess this one. So I don't know if that's the same as the one

Carly Ries: she had on. On the bottom?

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, no. I can't see. Oh, no.

Carly Ries: Did I miss it? You missed it. Damn.

Lauren Ferrara: Well, I'm glad they're both good.

Amanda Bristol: They're both good. They are both delicious. They really are and they're really close.

Carly Ries: They are. Yeah. I, I think I just lucked out. Out. 50% chance?

There we go.

Lauren Ferrara: Well, as long

Carly Ries: as they're both good, we're we'll we'll stick with it.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah.

Carly Ries: Well, then let's move on to the final beer. This beer benefits Smokebrush Foundation of the Arts. It's called the Smoke Porter. Smokebrush, you guys, they do so much. It is so hard to keep track of this foundation because Yeah.

What's interesting about them is they do so much behind the scenes that nobody would ever know. They did the Unglover fountain, which you were saying that it's there's just this itty bitty plaque. Yeah. But Kat Tutor, who is kind of the mastermind behind all of this, they just are so involved in the arts. They wanna bring the arts to the city in really creative and unique ways, whether it's through move movement, through puppet shows, through the fountain,

Amanda Bristol: art and creativity. Random acts of creativity, they call it, which I just love.

Carly Ries: It is amazing. And now they're doing farm to table. They have Airbnbs at the farm that you can rent out. I mean, what do they not do? How did you get involved with this group?

Amanda Bristol: That's such a good question. I mean, it I I would just say that, the part that I can mention is that, Bob Tudor who was not yet married to Kat, but is now her husband and is an artist as well, he has a studio up, it's kind of behind the Margarita at Pine Creek, you know where that is.

Carly Ries: Yep.

Amanda Bristol: And, when we first opened our very first brewery was off of Forge Road off of Garner of the Gods. And so we were up there in his neck of the woods and he was a customer early on. And then later, I think, you sort of got involved with with Don Godi because, well, I first met Don because he his wife taught kindergarten at Canyon Elementary where, my kids were, our kids were. And, but then it all sort of came together with you and Don. So why don't you tell that story?

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. Don was the was the one that had the idea to do the smoked quarter, and Don just has an incredible amount of energy, which is, probably why they're they have done so much stuff. And of course, Kat does as well. But, yeah, we just important in a community. And it was it was more it was more art based back then.

It's expanded, I think, into some different areas. But we just felt like, again, these these people are doing really great things, and a lot of people don't know about it. And and that was really one of the one of the things that we wanted to do with this project was not just to raise money, but to also raise exposure for these groups so so that people in our community could see that really there's good things happening. And and this is only 3 of many great, groups doing great work, so I don't wanna single them out as the only ones. But, I think that with the smoke breast, that was that was really important.

A lot of people, they they knew the uncle Wilbur fountain, but they didn't have any idea where it came from. And, again, I mean, similar to what we just talked about with with Cheyenne Canyon. I mean, most people probably believe that the city just poured a bunch of money in to build this really cool fountain at Acacia Park, and that's just just not the way it works. So, even in the even in the early days, they didn't have the budget to maintain the, the fountain. And so, in the first few years, much of the money that we were raising was going to just maintaining that fountain so they could operate on a schedule through the summer.

So I I think that, art is just such a big part of community and and makes a place pretty special. And so, I think that's what was kinda resonated with us.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. And and we had, we'd gone to early on, we'd gone to a a play that that then had been put on by Smokebrush, you know, just another one of their things that they do in the community or used to do. That's kind of their evolution has just been all over the place as you've said. But we, that was the first kind of like we noticed, what they were doing in the community at that point and that was back in the nineties. And they have done so much more since then.

And, you know, a lot of people don't realize that the Uncle Wilbur Fountain is named after Bob Tudor's uncle. He there literally is an Uncle Wilbur. We got to meet him one time.

Carly Ries: Yeah.

Amanda Bristol: And Bob wrote the music that the Uncle Wilbur plays when he rises up from the when that fountain opens up. And it's just I think it was I

Lauren Ferrara: think he recorded it too.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Right. And it was

Amanda Bristol: just a project that was really near and dear to their hearts, and then they just they got it created and then just gave it to the city. And that to me is just that's I guess it's sort of a values, that we respected, you know, that they just wanted to do something for this for this town. And and they and also the other 2 organizations, you know, they just make Colorado Springs unique and they make it what it is and they set it apart from other cities. And and and us locals, we we get that, you know. And not everybody that's outside of Colorado Springs understands what all we have here and how great it is.

Carly Ries: Yeah. I know. It is just so wonderful. And this foundation is no exception. I love everything that they do.

And I I do wanna focus back on the beer a little bit. So it it's a smoked porter. It's when I think of smoked alcoholic beverages, I often think of, like, whiskey.

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, yeah.

Carly Ries: Do you know how many you can get that? The the

Amanda Bristol: smoked whiskey. For sure.

Carly Ries: I think I've even had that downstairs before.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah.

Carly Ries: But you have pulled this off and not many people can pull off this kind of flavor. So, I mean, you talked about the inspiration behind it, but did it make you nervous?

Lauren Ferrara: That's a

Amanda Bristol: good question.

Lauren Ferrara: It it does a little bit because, the smoked malt that we use in it, if it gets overpowering, it can be a bit much. And so, we we do try to be pretty cautious of that. And since it's based on since it's a smoked porter, my own opinion is that we want it to taste, first and foremost like a porter with some smoked character to it rather than, I mean, I make the joke, but if you put too much smoked malt in a beer, I mean, it tastes like drinking out of an ashtray. I mean, it's it's intense, and that is not what we were shooting for. So that balance is is important because if you don't you have to have enough in there to to to be able to taste and to smell and and add to the character, but if you go over, then it takes away from the character.

So it is a little bit of a tricky beer to brew.

Carly Ries: Is that oh, go ahead.

Amanda Bristol: Oh, I was just gonna say it's kind of interesting that that nowadays, there's lots of beers that have very unusual elements added to them. Whether it's

Lauren Ferrara: You mean like breakfast cereal?

Amanda Bristol: Whether breakfast cereal or maybe it's they want it to taste like strawberry shortcake or, an ice cream sundae or, you know, those things. And and there really is an art to making a beer still taste like a beer, but have an interesting, flavor to it that, that you can appreciate. So

Lauren Ferrara: And that enhances the beer flavor

Amanda Bristol: It enhances the beer.

Lauren Ferrara: Opposed to trying to take it away.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Absolutely. Right.

Amanda Bristol: Right. And I've always respected Mike so much for his ability to come up with recipes, that that do that.

Carly Ries: So is this the most unusual ingredient that you've excuse me. Unusual ingredient that you have tried?

Lauren Ferrara: No. I'm well, I mean, at the time, the pumpkins were probably the most usual, unusual. Yeah.

Amanda Bristol: Back then. It was Mhmm. You know? 16 years ago.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. But, yeah, we we we're not the kind of brewery that I mean, I joke about breakfast cereal, and there are people that want to try beers that have breakfast cereal in them, and that's okay. But I just it's just not our thing.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Yeah.

Lauren Ferrara: You know?

Carly Ries: What's the wildest suggestion one of your customers has given you for a beer that you're like, hard pass?

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, that's a great question.

Amanda Bristol: Because you do get a lot of suggestions. I'm sure. Yeah.

Carly Ries: Because everybody knows how to improve a beer. Yeah. Obviously. Well,

Lauren Ferrara: it might have been the the ghost pepper. Oh. There was somebody that said that they had tried a ghost pepper beer somewhere else.

Carly Ries: Were you tempted?

Lauren Ferrara: And, no. We have done green chile in in beer, but I just feel like the ghost pepper would just take over. I mean, it would you wouldn't be able to taste anything else. So, again, to me, it kinda comes back to that balance. I mean, I think you can do a good a good beer with green chilies if you do it right because you you you can have that balance.

But I feel like I feel like with ghost pepper, it it was just all about the burn. Yeah.

Carly Ries: Oh, for sure. It'd be hard.

Lauren Ferrara: And I've joked a lot that, you know, people are like, oh, why don't you what about cucumbers and beer? What about this? And by now, there's a brewery that's probably done it, whatever it is. But my my joke is even with chili beer, really, my joke is I love green chilies and I love beer, but I don't knead them together. I don't knead them in the same glass.

Carly Ries: Yeah. Exactly.

Lauren Ferrara: I can I can have my green chile stew and drink my beer and be really happy? So, but, you know, I there's a lot of a lot of breweries pushing the limits out there with, you know, interesting things like that, and and I don't I don't wanna speak poorly of them, but it obviously works. And then there's a people enjoy that experiment Yeah.

Carly Ries: That's true. And then they

Lauren Ferrara: they do it. Yeah. It's just not really what we're kind of about. And and I, you know, I I try to be open too. I mean, I don't wanna be this old curmudgeon that's

Carly Ries: this is all little new. You know? Back in the day, we didn't have Yeah. We had flavors.

Lauren Ferrara: But I still do prefer beer flavored beer. So

Carly Ries: Yeah. No. I understand that. Well, I bet that's something that people have questions about is, like, what, like, what your threshold is for trying these things. And people have said a lot of things about Bristol over the years, usually very positive.

But I I I wanna go into an area of the interview where we are going to debunk some myths you may or may not have heard. And you can laugh, you can agree, whatever you wanna do.

Amanda Bristol: You can cry.

Carly Ries: Yeah. You can cry. So we have 5 fact or fiction. The first is you use Ivy Wild School Lockers to age your beer.

Amanda Bristol: No way. Really? That's

Lauren Ferrara: Good idea. No.

Amanda Bristol: That isn't kind of fun, but

Carly Ries: I'm gathering that's a no.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. That that'd be a no. Yeah. They'd be too small anyway. We we make a lot more beer than that.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. And wouldn't wouldn't it pour out the side? I mean, I guess they're thinking in a container in a locker.

Carly Ries: I don't know how that would even work,

Amanda Bristol: but it is a cute idea.

Carly Ries: Yeah. There you go, you guys. So I think this would apply to Ivy Wild as a whole, but you can hear children's laughter in the brewery at night after hours.

Amanda Bristol: Oh my gosh. Now that one,

Lauren Ferrara: I have not personally heard it, but I have heard enough people say it that it it that I would have to say I I I wouldn't discount that one.

Carly Ries: Verdict is that interesting.

Lauren Ferrara: Just from my own perspective. I I have not experienced it, but, other people have. I don't know what your opinion is.

Carly Ries: I've never

Amanda Bristol: I've never heard that.

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, really?

Amanda Bristol: No. That's so funny.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah.

Amanda Bristol: I I heard something about the storeroom, of the gym, but I don't even remember now what what the story was. But so, I mean, that's something that's something

Lauren Ferrara: contractors have some people contractors have mentioned that. And I'm a little surprised that I haven't, but I just, you know, I think some people are more open to that than others. And Sure. I I'm I must not be because I I don't notice that sort of thing, but so I might might not be tied into that spiritual realm or something. But, I've heard it enough that I certainly don't discount it.

Interesting. Well, let's talk about

Carly Ries: that later. I have not heard that. Dinner talk tonight. Yeah. Right.

Right. Right. A lot of it was a lot of it was during

Amanda Bristol: construction because it was,

Lauren Ferrara: you know, it was empty and people were here, you know, in odd hours during construction. And, although, I also have heard it from, employees the closing employees mostly because you wouldn't hear it unless it's quiet. So you have to kind of be here at an odd odd hour.

Carly Ries: Alright. So maybe Han and I go out tours next October. We'll go to a less scary one.

Amanda Bristol: I'm not a big by myself,

Carly Ries: but so

Amanda Bristol: I guess I'm Well, they're

Lauren Ferrara: just kids. It's not scary.

Carly Ries: Yeah. That's always scarier. Settling. We'll move on to the next one. The brewery was started as a dare.

Amanda Bristol: Oh gosh.

Lauren Ferrara: No. That would be a great story though.

Carly Ries: Yeah. But She won.

Lauren Ferrara: No. No. It wasn't. It was, that's just a crazy idea.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah, we started home brewing. Well, I I will say I was Mike's able assistant, but, we in his kitchen, you know, we started that and and then the beer was good and

Lauren Ferrara: At least we thought it was at the time.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. Well, your, your roommate wanted it for his rehearsal dinner, so that was our first our first, public

Carly Ries: Our first pro gig. Yeah.

Amanda Bristol: But, yeah. It just, it all kinda came together at a time when, Mike was ready to own his own business. He's such an entrepreneur at heart, and I was working for an ad agency and and it was like, you know, you can you can name the beers and do the advertising and the marketing and and I'll make the beer and we'll start a brewery together and then What

Lauren Ferrara: could possibly go wrong?

Amanda Bristol: And then we then so we that was all when we were just dating and so then we we got married in December of 93 and started the brewery in in June of 94. Perfect. So false. It's our first crowd.

Carly Ries: Yep. Awesome. Yep. Alright. Going back to Ivy Wild, the Ivy Wild school bell rings when a new beer is released.

Oh.

Amanda Bristol: Another good idea.

Lauren Ferrara: I wish that was were were the case. We need to put a bit

Amanda Bristol: Well, we do have a actual bell that we ring to get people's attention when Mike makes the Maybe that's us. But

Lauren Ferrara: But I do like the idea. Yeah. There's not really an Ivy Wyld bell, although we do have a bell that actually came from the church across the way.

Amanda Bristol: Where's that?

Lauren Ferrara: Someday. I think it's around here somewhere.

Carly Ries: Wait for that.

Lauren Ferrara: So I'd say I'd say false on the on the, like, the school bell sort of thing.

Carly Ries: Yes. Okay.

Lauren Ferrara: But we do we do ring a bell just to get everybody's attention in the pub.

Carly Ries: And it

Amanda Bristol: was a bell that came off of, like, eBay or something.

Carly Ries: So it's

Amanda Bristol: it's not actually related to Adiwell, unfortunately.

Carly Ries: Okay. Good to know. So last one, you're planning to open an actual beer school.

Amanda Bristol: Another good idea.

Lauren Ferrara: Now we have had sort of variations of beer school over the years. We worked with Colorado State University Pueblo for a little while to host a program here, and we've done some some beer education things. But I don't know in the future I don't know. It seems like people are maybe people that wanna learn more about beer have already learned it, so it doesn't seem like there's quite as much demand as as there was 15 years ago. But, but we do like the idea of educating people in in any way possible, and and so I would never rule out something like that.

It would be kind of an interesting project.

Amanda Bristol: Yeah. Awesome.

Carly Ries: Well and before we get into the now for rapid fire questions because you actually already answered one of mine. Oh. We didn't decide if you guys could pick out the porter that is yours Oh. Or the other, and I wanna make sure we give the listeners what they want. So which one is yours?

Lauren Ferrara: I'm gonna guess the left one.

Carly Ries: You are correct. Couldn't

Lauren Ferrara: go I couldn't get through it real quick.

Amanda Bristol: See, these are also close. I think it's my right one.

Carly Ries: If you lift it up and see a sticker underneath. Do you see a sticker? Yes. Okay. It's a free Sprite.

Oh, wow. Free for

Lauren Ferrara: free ice.

Carly Ries: Alright. You guys know your beers. I'll even say you know all your beers.

Lauren Ferrara: Well, I don't know.

Carly Ries: I do know your beers. Okay. To round out the interview, quick rapid fire, what is the favorite beer name you've come up with and why? I'm gonna put this question on you, Amanda.

Amanda Bristol: Oh, well, it's gotta be Laughing Lab. I remember I remember it so well when I was working on it. And, yeah, and it's just happy, you know. It's just and it's unusual. And especially, I mean, back then, the beers were beer names were very, very, kind of stuffy, you know, or beer labels definitely were.

And and it just went together to have the dog and the name together. And so, yeah, I I just had a lot of fun with that.

Carly Ries: Yeah. We we sure love that one. That's that's a fact. I don't know if you can answer this. It might be, like, one of your kids, and I think you said this last night, the beer you're most proud of.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. I'd certainly love them all. I I guess the beer that I would be most proud of would probably also be laughing lab only because just in this industry to have a beer that's remained a flagship beer for 30 years is really rare. And so I think that that just that that longevity and the following of that beer has really been fantastic. I mean, I wouldn't say it's I mean, there's plenty of other beers that we've brewed that I list I just really loved the the execution of that particular recipe.

And and the lab was that way in the beginning, but just the fact that it's lasted that long is really incredible for this industry.

Amanda Bristol: And it's also won, you know, 10 medals at the Great American Beer Festival. And you it's the ideal to have a beer that the judges like and also your customers like, you know. More important to have your

Lauren Ferrara: customers rare.

Amanda Bristol: More important to have your customers like it, but to have beer judges also like it is just wow. It's it's pretty amazing and and to me, I'm proud of that one too for that reason. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. And the Scottish ale, like, back in, you know, at at any point, you know, someone's saying, yeah.

Give me a Scottish ale. Like, what even is a Scottish ale? Most people don't even know what that is. But, yeah, it has a lot about it that is, to me, really interesting and cool. Yeah.

Carly Ries: No. Absolutely. And and your answer to this one might be a laughing lab, but it has been chilly here in Colorado Springs. We've already had our big first blizzard. It's really cold today.

If you're hanging out by the fire, what is your favorite beer to drink in these cold temps?

Lauren Ferrara: Oh, it's for me, it's Winter Warlock, or Winter Warlock most of the time or on a special occasion or old number 23 barley

Amanda Bristol: wine. Oh, you stole those.

Carly Ries: Both from

Amanda Bristol: me. Those were my 2 also.

Carly Ries: Good answers though.

Lauren Ferrara: And actually smoke breast porter comes in there too.

Carly Ries: Yeah. For me.

Amanda Bristol: And I do love, the Winter Warlock on Nitro, which is, you know, as opposed to, CO 2. It's so creamy and smooth and kinda like a a milkshake, a beer milkshake almost. And it's actually good with ice cream too.

Carly Ries: Oh my gosh. Those are it's like the the affogato for coffee, but for beer instead. Yeah.

Lauren Ferrara: Yeah. Yeah.

Carly Ries: Okay. Last one. You're by the fire. You're drinking the Winter Warlock. What snack do you have with it?

Cheese.

Amanda Bristol: Blue blue cheese. My Blue cheese and winter warlock. And actually blue cheese also goes well with the barley on with our old number 23, which

Carly Ries: we

Amanda Bristol: I don't think we have available right now. So maybe we should talk more about the winter warlock. Yeah. Yeah. It's really good, with a nice hearty blue cheese Stilton or Maytag.

Carly Ries: Say no more. That's what I'm doing tonight, you guys. Well, this has been so fun. I have so enjoyed chatting with you 2. Again, big fan of yours just before we sat down to chat and will continue to be forever.

And I just really appreciate your time today, so thanks for coming on. Oh, thank

Lauren Ferrara: you so much. For your interest.

Amanda Bristol: Really fun. Yeah. Thank you for Let's do

Lauren Ferrara: it again.

Carly Ries: Oh, for sure. You were in here first. I mean, how great are they?

Lauren Ferrara: What a great company. Okay.

Carly Ries: So you heard me in the interview say that I was not really a pumpkin beer person because it's usually syrupy. But, man, I love that beer. I asked Mike and Amanda what their favorite beers were and and time of year. They mentioned Winter Warlock. But I I gotta say, I really like the the pumpkin ale, the vintage tea

Lauren Ferrara: potato. It's

Carly Ries: so good.

Lauren Ferrara: And and I love they really were like the OGs of pumpkin beers. It wasn't really a thing. I didn't realize this until your interview, but I guess it wasn't really a thing until they started doing it. And now everybody has a pumpkin beer, but theirs is far and away better than any other pumpkin beer I've had.

Carly Ries: Mike said he was like, I still like our beer to taste like beer.

Lauren Ferrara: And Solid.

Carly Ries: That it does. Honestly, those 3, I I'm a big Bristol beer fan, so I'm kind of, biased. But I really you can't go wrong with any of those 3 beers. I just I mean, I'm a PSL girl. Got partial to those pieces.

B. Trader Joe's pumpkin stuff, just all of that get in my mouth.

Lauren Ferrara: Love it. Have you had the Trader Joe's stuffing popcorn yet? Here's the thing, Lauren. You keep talking about it,

Carly Ries: and I keep intentionally not buying it because it would be very problematic.

Lauren Ferrara: It is problematic. Like, I have I bought 7 bags of it, and I don't have much left. And I'm tempted to go back, but also I need to cut myself off. But it's not good.

Carly Ries: Yeah. I have no no self control in that kind of stuff in my house. But to the point my mom gets these truffle chips from Trader Joe's, and when we go over there, I ask her to hide them so that I don't go and destroy the bag.

Lauren Ferrara: But I was the the Thanksgiving popcorn, I was like, this would be so good with the Vendittucci pumpkin ale.

Carly Ries: So so true. Well, aside from this popcorn, which I think could be your pick of the week for the rest of your life, What is your pick of the week this week? Let's do it. Let's do our picks

Lauren Ferrara: of the week. So my pick of the week would be cookies with Santa. Colorado Springs Moms Collective puts it on every year, and it is such a fun and not overly some holiday events are just so crazy. And just a lot of people are standing in lines, they have this timed entry. So you come in, you decorate ornaments and make cookies, and you get your photo taken with Santa.

And we've gone for the past 3 or 4 at least 4 years. And it's the real Santa, I'm telling you. It and you get these beautiful professional photos And they are doing a special discount for our listeners. Same code, springs and things, you get a 10% discount. It's December 1st on Sunday, 1st in Main Town Center, Upper Loft.

And, good news y'all, it's inside.

Carly Ries: Did you guys just hear the y'all?

Lauren Ferrara: Yep. It comes out. It comes out, especially when I'm talking about beer with Mike and Amanda Bristol.

Carly Ries: So my pick of the week is actually also on December 1st at 5 o'clock. It is ask the actors at the Fine Arts Center. Oh. So curious about the lifestyle of a theater professional or what it takes to slip into character night after night? I I actually always think about that.

Then stay in your seats stay in your seats after the show for a curated discussion with the cast and creatives, and just satiate that curiosity, you guys. It'll begin immediately following following the December 1st, 2 PM performance of The Little Mermaid Up. That's I don't know why I keep singing in our show, but, I apologize to everybody. And this event is

Lauren Ferrara: free people listen. They just wanna hear you sing.

Carly Ries: I know. I know. I'm trying to get my 15 minutes of fame in the recording studio. But this event is free, open to the public, and no reservations are required for the ask the actors at the FAC. So please go check

Lauren Ferrara: it out. And I just got my tickets for The Little Mermaid, and I'm super excited. Hi. And I, like, peaked backstage as they were making the sets and everything, and it it looks pretty spectacular.

Carly Ries: I've seen a few, iterations of The Little Mermaid, never at the FAC, but just in other theaters. And I'm always like, how are they gonna do Ursula? It just that costume seems so elaborate to me. I just cannot wait to see how they do Ursula.

Lauren Ferrara: Yes. Well, they have on their social media. There's little little previews of it so you can take a peek. So Look

Carly Ries: at that insider scoop even

Lauren Ferrara: though Yeah. Well, this has been fun, Carly. What a great conversation with the Bristol's, and you can still get your give back pack, but they're going quick. Right?

Carly Ries: They're going so fast, so get them today. And listeners, this has been such a fun ride so far. And don't forget to

Lauren Ferrara: share this with a friend. If you enjoyed this podcast, we would love it if you would text the link to a friend and also write a review. Thanks so much for listening.

Carly Ries: We'd so appreciate it, and we will see you next week on Springs and Things.

Carly Ries

Episode 3: Coffee, Community & Colorado Springs: A Fascinating Chat That Goes Beyond The Brew

Episode 4: Gratitude Games Live From Bristol Brewing! Giving Back, A Blind Taste Test...And Is This Favorite Spot Haunted?

Episode 02: Breathe In, Breathe Out: Overcoming Overwhelm in COS