by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
Wood Fired Oven Attachment: Pizzas are ready in 3–5 minutes, with crisp crusts and perfectly browned toppings.
In the June edition of this publication, the Yoder YS640s was reviewed and we mentioned that it is widely regarded as one of the highest-quality pellet grills on the market, particularly for serious backyard pitmasters and even some commercial applications.
The 335-pound grill is made of heavy-duty steel and also built in the United States. They are built in Kansas, which allows for better quality control compared to many imported competitors.
The Yoder YS640s is often considered a tank of a smoker — built for longevity, performance, and consistent results. This smoker is ideal for serious BBQ enthusiasts who want pro-level equipment that lasts decades with proper care.
In our opinion, a must have accessory is the wood fired oven insert which retails for $489. It is a handcrafted attachment for Yoder YS480/YS640 or YS1500 pellet grills, offering restaurant‑style results with push‑button convenience.
In our tests of cooking pizza, it achieved a temperature of 700°F at the cooking stone, while the hood top reached up to 900°F, which was ideal for cooking quick pizzas. We also used the oven attachment to cook a baked ziti which produced the crusty cheese on the top making a delicious Italian meal for the whole family.
Must Have Accessory: The wood fired oven attachment is built with heavy-duty powder‑coated steel and a perforated heat diffuser.
The wood fired oven attachment is built with heavy-duty powder‑coated steel and a perforated heat diffuser for balanced, radiant heat distribution from top and bottom at the same time. It incorporates a 3/4” American-made, kiln-fired cooking stone engineered for rapid heat transfer and near-instant recovery.
Pizzas are ready in 3–5 minutes, with crisp crusts and perfectly browned toppings. The wood fired oven is also excellent for baking (bread, pies, casseroles) and broiling (lasagna, mac & cheese) thanks to superior radiant browning.
The flat oven top can be used as an additional high-temp cooking surface for cast iron or carbon steel cookware. This is ideal for cooking sauce on top to achieve an elevated flavor profile.
This wood fired oven is perfect for yard space conservation as it turns a pellet grill into a full-fledged wood‑fired oven where no separate standalone oven is needed. It produces authentic wood-fired flavor and high-heat performance using just pellets, without wood logs or splitting.
The pellets used in our tests with the wood fired oven are a brand called Cookin Pellets.com. CookinPellets.com specializes in 100% natural hardwood grilling pellets, free from fillers, bark, or flavoring oils.
High Quality Pellets: CookinPellets.com is a premium wood pellet, sourcing only the finest materials from top-tier mills to ensure every pellet delivers exceptional flavor and performance.
CookinPellets.com delivers high-quality, pure hardwood smoke at a good price, particularly in bulk. If you prefer a clean, balanced smoke, their blends, especially Perfect Mix, are great. The perfect mix is a blend of Hickory, Cherry, Maple, and Apple. We used this mix for both the pizzas and baked ziti.
The other flavors CookinPellets.com offer are: Hickory, Apple Mash, Black Cherry, and a Longhorn Blend, a blend of Mesquite, Cherry, and Hard Maple. CookinPellets.com offers three-pound sample bags and up to 40-pound bulk packs, plus discounts on bundles and pallets.
CookinPellets.com was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.cookinpellets.com. The Yoder 640s are sold for $2,699. More information can be found at www.yo dersmokers.com.
by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
Solid Choice: Lypertek Pureplay C3 earbuds is a great pick for those looking for reliable earbuds that sound good and are comfortable in the ears.
Wireless earbuds are abundant in the market today with Apple’s Airpods having a significant corner on the market. There are plenty of products to consider and one to give a hard look to is the Lypertek PurePlay C3 earbuds has a premium design featuring handcrafted resin earbuds with a luxury aluminum charging case.
These earbuds are compact and comfortable, with multiple silicone and foam ear tip sizes for a secure fit. These are rated IPX6 for splash and sweat resistance, good for workouts, mowing the lawn, walking the dog, but caution with heavy water exposure.
Charging Case: The charging case for Lypertek Pureplay C3 earbuds adds one month to the charge making this one of the best earbuds for battery life on the market.
The best feature of these buds is the solid 8 hours per earbud per charge. The charging case claims to add up to one month but in our tests, it lasts even longer. But, how does it sound? They are powered by Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive, ensuring stable, low-latency audio. It has a rich sound and acceptable for the common user.
They are also good for phone calls with dual ENC mics with cVc 8.0 aim for clean calls. The touch controls are also responsive and reliable allowing for pausing by the simple touch of one of the buds.
If you are in the market for wireless earbuds, you can’t go wrong with this pair. The Lypertek PurePlay C3 stands out with its luxurious design, hybrid audio drivers, and impressive battery endurance. It’s ideal if you’re after robust bass, no-fuss connectivity, and unique looks.
At time of press, the Lypertek Pureplay C3 earbuds retail for $99. More information can be found at www.lypertek.com/prod ucts/c3.
by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
Easy To Use: The NAMA J3 Cold Press Juicer features a hands-off operation. It allows one to load the hopper and walk away.
The Nama J3 Cold Press Juicer is a relatively new model that’s gained attention for its compact design, ease of use, and slow cold press technology. The Nama J3 is a compact, hands‑off cold press (masticating) juicer, delivering premium juice quality, ideal for small kitchens, travel, or single‑serve batches.
It’s dimensions are 8.9” × 6.5” × 15.4” and weighs 9.7 pounds. It is equipped with a 130 W motor and an auger that spins at 50 RPM. It has a 8–16 oz per hopper load depending on produce. It comes complete with a hopper, fine and coarse strainers, auger, juice and pulp containers, cleaning brush, and a recipe booklet. And it all arrives in sustainable, well-designed packaging and BPA-free materials.
Portable: Weighing in at less than 10 pounds, the NAMA J3 Cold Press Juicer is easy to transport and has a small profile on the kitchen counter.
One of the key features is the hands-off operation. You can literally load the hopper and walk away. It processes all ingredients without constant supervision and when the lid is opened, it pauses and resumes automatically. It is quiet and has a versatile output. The two strainers offer control over pulp levels. The NAMA J3 is a compact machine but packs a powerful punch and is effective with leafy greens, ginger, nuts, and even nut milk.
The machine is easy to clean with only light rinsing required. Although parts rinse well, none are dishwasher‑safe. The warranty is 15 years and is priced at $450 at time of press. NAMA does not sell their products at any physical retailers. To ensure you’re buying safely, always buy directly through their website or an authorized retailer: Discount Juicers or Amazon (sold by Namawell). For more information visit www.namawell.com/products/nama-j3-cold-press-juicer.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 20, 2025 | Uncategorized
Ideal For Dedicated Coffee Fans Who Enjoy A Proper Home Brewed Cup
by Mark Smiley
Making pour-over coffee at home is becoming more popular as prices rise at coffee shops around the Cherry Creek valley. Besides the savings, pour-over coffee at home offers several other advantages. It offers superior flavor control with control over the water temperature, coffee grind size, and brewing time. This results in a cleaner, more nuanced cup with clarity and complexity often lost in automatic machines.
Pour-over coffees also offer a level of freshness. You’re likely using freshly ground beans and filtered water. The result is a more aromatic, flavorful cup compared to pre-ground or store-bought coffee.
If you’re particular about taste or enjoy the craft of coffee making, pour-over is hard to beat. However, one disadvantage would be the time it takes to make those cups at home. That is where the xBloom Studio machine comes into play. xBloom is a premium specialty coffee system designed for home baristas who care about precision, flavor, and convenience. If you want café-quality pour-over with automation and the ability to customize every variable, this machine is worth a look.
xBloom Studio is an automated pour-over coffee machine with a built-in burr grinder, scale, and touchscreen. It supports three brewing modes: Autopilot, Copilot, and FreeSolo. The autopilot allows you to tap an NFC “xPod” card to pull a roaster-curated recipe, and the machine handles grind, water temp, pour pattern, and timing. The copilot mode allows for use of your own beans and the ability to customize every parameter via the xBloom app. The FreeSolo mode offers complete manual control using the machine’s onboard dials, grinder, and scale.
The system uses biodegradable whole-bean “xPods” with embedded RFID chips to automatically load brewing profiles; you can also pour in your own beans or use a Kalita dripper.
“As a dad of two, convenience is everything — and this machine delivers,” said Mark P., a Verified buyer of the xBloom Studio. “It’s incredibly easy time feels like a treat. I’m seriously wondering why I didn’t buy this earlier.”
The xBloom Studio has a built-in 48 mm conical burr grinder, 0‑2 kg scale (0.1 g resolution), touchscreen, and metal dials on the front for precise adjustments. With all of the components, it features a small footprint and is a sleek and stylish machine that looks good in any kitchen and does not take up a lot of space.
It features precision pouring and heats water instantly via nanofilm heating and delivers water in circular patterns while gently agitating the dripper for even extraction. The xBloom app connects via Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth to set up brew recipes, control every variable, monitor grind.
The xBloom Studio is one of the most advanced home pour-over systems available. It’s a strong pick for dedicated coffee fans who appreciate control and quality in a sleek package.
At time of press, the xBloom Studio retails for $599. Chronicle readers can use promo code Glendale-20 to receive $20 off their purchase. Visit www.xbloom.com to learn more and to purchase.
by Mark Smiley | Jan 16, 2025 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
January 9, 2025, marked the first Thursday for the Amtrak Winter Park Express to operate under its new regular service schedule. And January 13 marked the first Monday that the train runs regularly.
The new Thursday and Monday runs, which will last until March 31, are in addition to the usual Friday, Saturday, and Sunday service that passengers have come to expect of the ski train.
The new five-days-a-week service, which also comes with lower fares, is a result of increased funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation. The route, which runs from Denver Union Station to the slopes at the Winter Park Resort, also stops at the Fraser-Winter Park station.
“We hope Coloradans and visitors to our state will take advantage of this expanded service,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Folks riding the Winter Park Express can bring their skis, boards, and gear at no additional cost, and there are two more train cars now to carry more people and their stuff.
“With fares more than 40% less than previous years, this is a great deal.”
In addition to being able to purchase food and beverages aboard the Winter Park Express, passengers can enjoy panoramic views of the Rockies from the Sightseer Lounge car.
The train departs Denver Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrives at Winter Park at 9:11 a.m. The return trip departs from Fraser-Winter Park station at 4:05 p.m., then departs Winter Park Resort station at 4:35 p.m. and arrives in Denver at 7:05 p.m. One-way fares start at $19 or $9.50 for kids. For tickets, go to amtrak.com/winterparkexpress.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
Silver & Gold: The Bull & Bush Brewery won gold for Ghoul Fuel – Rum Diaries Edition and silver for Temporary Paradise – Rum Diaries Edition, both in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category at this year’s Great American Beer Festival competition.
Happy Crew: The Launch Pad crew shortly after winning a gold medal for Silver Medal Worthy, a Belgian Golden Strong Golden Ale.
The Great American Beer Festival was held the weekend of October 12, 2024, at the Colorado Convention Center. The Brewers Association once again hosted one of the world’s most prestigious and influential beer competitions. And, two Chamber breweries, Bull & Bush Brewery and Launch Pad Brewery, brought home medals. Colorado breweries and cideries won 41 medals all together, topping last year’s haul of 40 for the centennial state.
The 38th edition of the GABF competition featured 8,836 beers judged among 1,869 breweries and cideries. There were 285 judges blind taste testing these beers and they awarded 326 total medals. The winning beers in more than 100 categories were announced at the Bellco Theatre in Denver on Saturday, October 12.
“The Great American Beer Festival continues its commitment to recognizing exceptional beverages from across the country in the 2024 competition,” said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association. “With the addition of five new cider categories, we’re pleased to recognize the best of the best in beer and beyond. Congratulations to this year’s winners.”
Among those winners were the Bull & Bush Brewery, who won gold and silver medals in the same category. This is a feat that experts don’t remember ever happening. The Glendale brewery won gold for Ghoul Fuel – Rum Diaries Edition and silver for Temporary Paradise – Rum Diaries Edition, both in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category.
“Brewing can be humbling, said Erik Peterson, owner of the Bull & Bush Brewery. “Aging beer in wood barrels is a singular and humbling exercise in passion, skill, and patience. The Bull & Bush Brewery team of Gabe, Josh, and Nick have each brought all of these skills together as a team. All together we celebrate a silver and GOLD in the Wood Aged Beer category!”
Different Layout: This year’s festival featured different sections which is different from layouts of years past. Photo courtesy of the Brewers Association
Gabe Moline, Head Brewer at the Bull & Bush Brewery adds: “The multi-year G.A.B.F. drought is over for the Bull & Bush crew. Two beers, same category, gold and silver … incredible. Maybe the secret is out after 27 years of brewing at the world famous Bull & Bush?”
Another proud Chamber member, Launch Pad Brewery, also won a gold medal at the competition. Silver Medal Worthy, a Belgian Golden Strong Golden Ale dry-hopped with HBC 586 hops, won a gold medal in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category.
“We always knew Silver Medal Worthy was something special, but to take home the gold at the Great American Beer Festival is an incredible honor,” said Paul Mahoney, Co-Owner/Head Brewer for Launch Pad Brewery. “It just goes to show that sometimes aiming for silver brings home the gold.”
The festival itself had a different layout with separate sections with breweries lined up alphabetically. The sections included Blast Off, Fright, Prost, and others which featured a different theme in each. Attendees were initially confused on how to find their favorite breweries or ones they wanted to try. Once they navigated through the convention entry hall, it became more obvious.
Next year’s festival is set for October 9-11, 2025. For more information, visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.
