Shadows of students walking by sweep back and forth across the room as Stefan Yauchzee opens a door to one of the refrigerators filled with beer. He inspects the aluminum can carefully before setting it on the counter, showing it as one of his favorite recommendations. The University of Idaho alumni had always wanted to venture into this type of business and now he stands proud as the owner of Pour Company, located on the edge of campus and near the heart of downtown Moscow.
Q: Why did you decide to open your own beer taproom and bottle shop?
A: After graduating in 2004 I worked for somebody else for 15 years. I would say I wanted to do this for about five years and made the decision at the end of 2019 to leave and do my own thing. Moscow needed a spot like this. All my friends, including myself, whenever we would visit Seattle or Portland, we would always be returning with hundreds of dollars’ worth of beer that nobody here was just carrying. I decided I would just start it, so we have access to good beer in Moscow.
Q: Did you face any issues with Pour Company since it opened at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Selling beer in a pandemic was not too difficult, especially since everybody was working from home. It was hard for the first three months because as a bar, I was unable to open until a later stage of the Idaho Rebound reopening plan. Pour Company wasn’t able to open until late June 2020 to allow inside drinking and even then, people weren’t comfortable going out. Social media and lots of word of mouth and just having beer selections that you can’t find anywhere else around the Inland Northwest. Operating a good website where people can see what’s in stock and purchase online was beneficial. We had a lot of curbside orders go out.
Q: How does your inventory selection process go?
A: I’ve been into craft beer since I was at drinking age, that’s all I’ve ever had. I’ve been chasing it and traveling a lot. Additionally, I follow tons of breweries on Instagram. I’m always actively searching when I travel and always begging distributors to bring things into the state for us. I’m always looking around at what other people have and looking for different items and stuff that no one else is bringing in.
Q: Which Pacific Northwest brew is your current favorite and why?
A: I would say right now if you’re looking at like breweries in the Pacific Northwest that you can get in Idaho, check out Lumberbeard Brewing. They also opened during the pandemic up in Spokane and they have not made a beer that has not been well done. We are lucky to have them and close to us too. When you travel to Spokane, you can visit the brewery. You can get them here on drafter and the can too. As far as distribution they are the best Pacific Northwest brewery that I have been excited about.
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