Stein Club Podcast

Chris and Ashley have really dropped the ball on getting these episodes out on time... in our defense, we've been very busy and our schedules haven't matched up for quite some time. I know, I know... EXCUSES! Anywho... listen as Chris and Ashley recap the last couple months and try to get this podcast back on the right track! Prost!

Well, we sure missed ya'll! We've been busy busy with the holidays and whatnot and decided to take another little break. We're launching off Season 3 with a chat about DOGS! We all love 'em and now we talk about dogs in pubs (or even in front of pubs). We're back to once a month, so keep a lookout for future episodes soon! Prost!

We’re talking breakfast drinks. You a fan of drinking in the morning? So are we! This one will make you thirsty! Prost!

Our podcast is officially Over the Hill (aka we’ve recorded 40 episodes). We’re old! It’s been a fun time recording and telling you about running/owning bars. We’ve been away from the podcast for a month now, so there’s lots to catch you up on.

Oktoberfest has come and gone, but our hangover is still holding strong. Chris and Ashley recap Oktoberfest across all seven of the Prost! German Pubs and boy, are we tired!

We talked about Oktoberfest history and what we have experienced in Munich at the proper Oktoberfest, but we haven’t shown all the magic that happens behind the curtain at good ol’ Prost! Phinney Ridge. Ashley and her staff have a lot to do to get ready for the big weekend and we break it down… The prep, the staffing, the showtime, and even the aftermath! It’s a whirlwind for sure. Prost!

We’re aware we’re repeating ourselves a bit, but you can’t stop Chris from a good metaphor. Chris just got back from his fishing trip in Canada, which yeah, we’re all aware of cos he won’t shut the fuck up about it. So, he using fishing as a metaphor for running a bar… catching customers, luring customers, setting the hook, blah, blah, blah… Plus, all our usual ramblings haha

Off the rails, once again! Hopefully this wraps up the stories of Chris and Bretto’s fishing endeavors up in Canada. We’ve been hearing about it for months now, but this episode wraps up everything. Bretto is our guest and they give us their fishing report from their much anticipated trip. Bretto caught the biggest fish, but Chris caught the most fish… so, errr a win-win! We also touch on what it’...

This podcast has really started to go all over the place, so take a listen to Ashley and Chris ramble on about a whole slew of nonsense and then eventually get to our subject of the day: creating regulars. Speaking Canadian, orcas (again), pest control horror stories, kids in bars, eye drops… the list goes on. And, you’ll finally hear about regulars and how important they are to our success. Prost...

Chris explains to Ashley why trademarks are so important to an iconic brand like Prost! and the process of how he acquired the trademark and what he has to do on a regular basis to keep the trademark. If you have a brand, make sure you protect it… Chris swears you won’t regret it! To be honest, the first half of the episode is really just Chris and Ashley talking about all the fun things they’ve b...

For the first time, Chris and Ashley talk pretty much about everything and nothing at the same time. We’ve taught you almost everything you need to know to get your bar open, so now you get to listen to us babble about all sorts of topics… Car Show, Soccer, Volkswagen, Brad Pitt, Ozempic, Orcas, and so much more!

TVs are almost always a part of a good bar. Not required, but they sure do add some entertainment, distraction, and comradery. Chris and Ashley are joined by Prost! Phinney Ridge regular and good friend, Amy, as we talk about the boob tube (aka TV) dynamics at any bar, but especially at Prost! Phinney Ridge. What do we play late at night? What do we play when there’s a sports draught? How do we ch...

TJ and Missy are Chris’ business partners and operators in Boise, where we have three bars/restaurants: Prost! Boise, Matlack’s, and North End Pizza. Missy used to beertend at Prost! Phinney over 10 years ago and that’s where she fell in love over a half liter, with TJ. Listen how they met, how they left Seattle and Prost!, how they came back to Chris to partner with him in Boise, and how things a...

Chris grew up in German bars. Ashley grew up in her grandparents’ diners. Now, let’s hear from the next generation. Chris’ nephew, Zach, joins us while we talk about all the times he drank ginger beer as a kid while his “DrUnkle” got drunk at Prost! And, all the times he helps build stuff for the bars… the free labor lives on! Haha We also talk about how much the show Cheers means to us and how mu...

You never know what the expect when you flip that open sign… Is it gonna be busy? Slow? Sometimes you never know, but you better be ready for it! Busy or slow, it’s all in the preparation. Chris and Ashley break down some stories and situations that have helped them and some that have haunted them over the years.

Ray Franco joins Chris and Ashley as they talk all things regarding this crazy industry we’ve all chosen to be a part of. Ray has worked EVERYWHERE, including for Chris for over 10 years. Ray has a lot to say about what he’s learned over the years. So many fun and crazy stories. Prost!

Chris and Ashley recently went to Germany to brew a bier for our pubs with Benediktiner and the rest of the Prost! family. What’s it like to drink bier with monks, sing American songs with Germans in small pubs, and attempt to cross a scary-ass suspension bridge in Austria? Well, you’ll have to take a listen to find out!

Chris and Ashley cover Chris' time at his alma matter, Cal Poly. We've talked about this before, but we're really diving into the university's motto, "learn by doing." We've all observed something or someone to "learn by doing," but we really talk about all the advances and hurdles we've overcome as we learned a trade BY DOING, rather than going to school to learn how to do something. Take a liste...

Carrie joins Chris and Ashley as they break down the history behind doppelbock, which Paulaner Brauerei pioneered back in the 1600s. The monks at the monastery needed sustenance during Lent, when they were fasting…. Needless to say, we hypothesize what they must’ve gotten up to while getting plastered on strong bier. We also learn a whole lot about Carrie’s past and history leading her to where sh...

Ryan joins Chris and Ashley as they talk about and reminisce about display (or open) kitchens. Chris' dreams came true when he hired Ryan almost 20 years ago to be the pretty face behind the curtain... errr... in this case, there was no curtain. Feierabend was an open kitchen and we cover all the pros and cons and funny stories along the way.

Chris drinks a lot of Bitburger. He knows what it tastes like with his eyes closed. Or does he? Follow along as Ashley and Chris talk about some pilsner history and different types of pilsners from all over the world. Ashley facilitates a blind tasting for Chris where he doesn’t know if he’s drinking Bitburger Pils, or some other pilsner curveballs from around the world. How well do you think he d...

The Stein Club Podcast went on a break and now we're back! Take a listen to all the fun shenanigans Chris got up to, while Ashley held down the fort at Prost! We also built out our new studio, so we're all fancy and legit now!

What do bars and restaurants do when it's slow? Some have trivia nights, karaoke, open mic, game nights, all day happy hour, industry nights... the list goes on! We've tried almost all of them and we have a lot to say about them. Also, what do bartenders do when it happens to be a slow shift? IYKYK.... order dinner... deep cleaning project... phase someone... They're all sure to get the place fill...

The barter system is alive and well at the Stein Club Podcast. Listen and learn how Chris got to know his future architect, Stacy Smedley, and how she agreed to design a lot of places for Chris, all in exchange for FREE BIER!

We asked the patrons of Prost to submit questions about Chris, Ashley, Prost! and the Podcast. 47 questions asked....47 questions answered! Listen and learn, 10's of 12's!!