In Episode 2 of Beer Stories, Mischa & Alex talk with Craft Beer Enthusiast and self-proclaimed "Mayor of Pasteur Street" about what makes a great Guest Experience at a Craft Beer Bar. We discuss what type of personality it takes to lead a group of friends on a night out, forming relationships between guests and service staff at bars & restaurants, being demanding in a positive way, the differences between bars back home and bars in Vietnam, the power of having good regular customers, Norm from Cheers, the importance of having good music at your bar, our friend Kurt Kaiser, and we try to order a tower of draft beer for home delivery. We also debut a brand new running segment for the show - The Hangover Check. And we do a round of Fact or Fiction with Beth, where she confirms or denies some statements about her and/or beer. Cheers!
Learn more about Pasteur Street Brewing Co.
Follow us on Facebook.
In Episode 2 of Beer Stories, Mischa & Alex talk with Craft Beer Enthusiast and self-proclaimed "Mayor of Pasteur Street" about what makes a great Guest Experience at a Craft Beer Bar. We discuss what type of personality it takes to lead a group of friends on a night out, forming relationships between guests and service staff at bars & restaurants, being demanding in a positive way, the differences between bars back home and bars in Vietnam, the power of having good regular customers, Norm from Cheers, the importance of having good music at your bar, our friend Kurt Kaiser, and we try to order a tower of draft beer for home delivery. We also debut a brand new running segment for the show - The Hangover Check. And we do a round of Fact or Fiction with Beth, where she confirms or denies some statements about her and/or beer. Cheers!
Learn more about Pasteur Street Brewing Co.
Follow us on Facebook.
Everybody ready?
Beth Caddy:Yeah, we're ready.. Alex Violette: That's Just go
Mischa Smith:and go. If you guys are
Alex Violette:laughing. No, just go with laughing. That's a good intro.
Mischa Smith:Welcome to Beer Stories. Welcome to Beer Stories, is a podcast about beer . Our, uh, Our theme music is written and performed by Louis Wright. My name is Misha. And my co-host is Alex Violet. Hi Alex. Hi everyone. Welcome coordinated. Oh, What is this mayor of Pastor Street thing that keeps coming
Beth Caddy:up? I come to pasture quite often, as I've mentioned, and you know what? I just kept on saying, I deserve a title. I. Mischa Smith: Even though you job. And then he got on the bike, smiled at me and he just drove off. And then I think you were there and you were like, Did that guy And I was like, Yeah. And you're like, He were loud. I was like, Maybe me. Alex Violette: I feel like it A tower for delivery and see what
Mischa Smith:happens.
Beth Caddy:Can I get a Tower of Jazzy A what? A tower. A tower of jazz. A tower? Yes, please. Where are you now?
Mischa Smith:our guest this week is a teacher. She is the official videographer for the Scorching Hot YouTube And she's the self-proclaimed mayor of Pastor Street Brewing Company. It's Beth Caddy. Hi.
Beth Caddy:Hi, Beth. Hi. How are you? Welcome to the pod. I'm happy to be.
Mischa Smith:Great. Is there anything you wanna say before we get going? Um, just by way of introduction?
Beth Caddy:No introduction. Very needed. Mayor of pasture, self reclaimed. Yes, that's true. But first female speaker, so I'm here
Mischa Smith:for it. Yeah, that's correct. You're a first female guest. If you're new to the pond, we talk about beer. We have a guest on every time, and we do a deep dive on a certain subject. So, uh, a new segment we've got for the, uh, the podcast. We're gonna run it every time. It's called the, uh, the hangover check. All right, So, uh, we're recording a little bit later in the We're recording on a Saturday. How hungover were you this morning? We're
Beth Caddy:recording on a
Mischa Smith:Saturday. It's Sunday. Sorry, I know what
Alex Violette:misha's answer's gonna be.. Mischa Smith: So we're
Beth Caddy:I mean, I can't comment about this morning because That's the comment. Yeah, it was. I had a pretty lovely morning. Okay, awesome.
Mischa Smith:7.60 wow. What'd you do last night? One guess. Tap room? Yep.
Beth Caddy:How was your
Mischa Smith:hangover? Uh, I had a massive Friday, so I actually went home really early last night Divine. It was nice. That's the hangover check. Brought you by . Yeah.
Beth Caddy:No hangover. Ask me. You
Mischa Smith:wanna sponsor the hangover check in.
Beth Caddy:Also ask me next weekend. I've had a, I've had a pretty mellow Friday and a very mellow Saturday, Sunday. However, I've picked it up. I've, I'm making up for last time, so maybe tomorrow. Work day Monday I dunno if we
Mischa Smith:should, if you want that out in the ether. That's been the hangover check brought to you by our friends at uh, no free ads. We need some sponsors for this show. Alex, do you wanna tell the folks at home what we're gonna
Alex Violette:Yeah, so this is actually one of my favorite topics. You know, brewing beer is amazing, but it really comes to life when, So the topic today is guest experience, so we're excited to ask you a few So are you usually the one that like decides the, are you the Would you say you make the decision about where everyone will
Beth Caddy:be drinking? I would say yes, just because not everyone wants to have a So I say, Let's go have a drink. They're like, Where are you going? I'm like, There's a few places I can think of. Number one, maybe past street Darin on the way home.
Alex Violette:Easy. Well, the, the thing that I've noticed though is you're, you're rarely.
Beth Caddy:This is true . I like to bring a different crew in as well They wanna go home, but then maybe wants to have a drink at 5:00 PM I'm there. I'm
Mischa Smith:down for it, obviously. Yeah, you're like, you said, you're, you're. Often, not always, but often the one leading the band, choosing where to go. What is it that, not just about Pastor Street, but what is it about a bar that Is there something specific that people can do? Is it a blend of different factors?
Beth Caddy:For me, I think. It's like the relationships that I make at the place that I'm in. I've lived in Saigon for like nearly eight years and there's a handful of It's normally my relationship with the staff or with the people that work there. So I can think of like my first couple of years going to a bar and I I have her own Instagram, and it's the same for the other So it's a lot about the relationships that I form there rather. The drink as such, I like to feel home and I think that probably My, my mom and my dad always used to take me to the same restaurants and So that's something that's important to me when I go somewhere. That.
Alex Violette:That's really, really cool to hear because that's one of the things with a guest, just pretend like they're in your living room at your house and treat So that's cool to hear you say that.
Beth Caddy:Yeah. Yeah. It's all about the relationship.
Mischa Smith:Awesome. I go to bars a lot. There are some bars, especially back home, but here as well that I would Or you know, there's some places that I go to by myself and I just sit at I'm also cognizant of the fact that I'm, when I'm at a bar, they're Evening to chat with me. So do you find that people here go outta their way to learn your name Like how do you, how does that relationship start?
Beth Caddy:The relationship definitely starts with me just When I walk in. I'm just like, I can sometimes be a little bit demanding, but not in a negative way. Just being like, Oh, what do you have this or this, or this or this? And I found through time, I've created the relationships. It's not like obviously on the first day, but people tend to remember my name
Mischa Smith:Awesome. So how many, how many regular bars do you have in Saigon that you'd I would say
Beth Caddy:one. Yeah, one now, but I ki I'm not the person that has like multiple bars on the go. It's like we move, but the one that I go to now has definitely been there But some days after work and I'm like, Oh, okay. I feel like some, somewhere different. I go to one of the bars in Benton District and it's the same thing the. One of the bar staff that I know has been working there for five years, and And it's just about, yeah, seeing an old friend.
Mischa Smith:I love it. No matter which city or country I'm in, if I walk into a bar and all Like it's the best, not the best feeling. It's one of the best feelings in the world. Like just, oh, like they care enough. They remember me, like they, they stand you or I stand out. Do you have any awesome memories from some bars back home that you used to frequent?
Beth Caddy:My mom lives in quite a small village, so it's hard Like I said, family relationship. Mom's loyal to one place called the Red Lion in Iva, and when we walk in it's, But when I was previously home in the summer, June and July, my And the first time I went, I was, Like I said a little bit loud. I'm like, Oh, what does this beer mean? What does this bear mean? Oh, can I try this? Can I try this? And they were like, All right, it's got nose, her beer, obviously. And then I went back like a couple of times after and they started Like I'd come outside, they would bring me little samples, so. I feel like if you're a presence or even not a presence, you can No one wants to live a mundane kind of job. If someone takes interest, then it's important. I agree.
Alex Violette:One thing that I've noticed about places that are fun And if they're having fun, that kind of just makes it like a good environment. Whereas, you know, if you're into sports, you might want to go to a But if people are in there having a good time, That's the key factor
Beth Caddy:for me. I mean, definitely also this place that I went to in Winchester, it was just But I was like, what makes a milkshake, ipa, or. She was like, Um, uh uh. I dunno. I dunno. I went outside straight away, Googled it, and I came in and I was like, I know And she was like, All right, great. Thank you. Thank you so much. I mean, it's a little bit of a laugh, isn't it? Is there such a thing as a milkshake ipa? I know there's a milkshake. Is it an IPA though? Or is it just like milkshake beer? It's
Mischa Smith:like a hazy IPA with
Beth Caddy:lactose. Yeah. Not check ipa. I said that right.
Mischa Smith:That's the one that brings all the boys to the air. Yeah. Fuck is no. Yeah, you nailed it. Yeah.
Beth Caddy:What the fuck is it milkshake, Paleo? Is it milkshake? I'm like, I'm sure it's
Mischa Smith:an ipa. No milkshake. IPA is correct. Yeah. You mentioned that sometimes when you go to a new bar you can be Can you explain demanding in a good way? Well, I mean,
Beth Caddy:I just know what I like, right? So for example, It took a while for me to find my favorite bar and Saigon. I had to do a lot of like samples, testers, tell people what I like. Oh, I like a happy, I like it like this. I like it like that. Luckily, I was met. I met someone. Very friendly during lockdown. His name's Kurt and he found me my favorite beer and I probably would not And that's Jasmine ipa. I mean, it's the same thing. I used to go to a Pair T-Bone a lot. I met the man. Super nice. Like one night just before lockdown, like when things were still open, It was an absolutely mental size bottle of vodka. And I was like, Are you gonna actually keep this for us? He was like, Here's your name. Put it on mask tape, put it on the bottle. And we always used to go to a parva. So when I, and they used to do a really good, um, gin, like a gin list. Sotu gin, Tusha botanicals. And it was, What do you like? So I know, I mean, controversial topic, love coriander. I was like, stick some coriander in there. Love it. Ooh, love a bit of rose. Put some rose beds in there. And then they found this con concussion form concoction for me. And every single time I went, didn't even, didn't even have to ask Got there straight away. So I mean, and every single time when I went, Hey Beth, how you doing? Hey too. How you doing? Oh, hey, can I come swimming at your pool this weekend? Absolutely, For sure. I guess also these relationships transcend out of the bar or restaurant. I get them on Instagram, I chat to them because I don't just see them as servers. I see them as friends, you know?
Mischa Smith:That's awesome.
Alex Violette:Yeah. So if it's your group of friends, and this is like your, your regular spot,
Mischa Smith:invited there? Absolutely
Beth Caddy:not. I mean, if I don't know the person, it's an opportunity to meet the person. Right? But there are those days, like I, I mentioned sometimes I just wanna be alone. Like after work, I'm like, ugh. Can't really be asked with seeing anybody. I'm gonna go to my bar and been done and just sit there and have a few beers. For myself. I choose the regular bar just because I feel safe. All right? If something's gonna, I was on a dating app, I, but I mean, going
Also, Sunday, 1:00 PM I'm pretty sure no one's gonna be there, so But I wouldn't say I've ventured out too far from my, my normal spots. I mean restaurant or bar owners or, or involved in the industry. What's your take on regulars? Why do you think, Why do you think they are there? I
Mischa Smith:think they have too much power. I think they go, No, I'm joking. I
Beth Caddy:mean, I was
Mischa Smith:like, Oh, . No, that was an inside joke for me. And you, Beth, obviously you know any bar and restaurant you, you I've worked in places where some of the regular customers were not people that. The staff were happy to see come in. I don't think we have anybody like that at, at any of our tap rooms now. Um, but yeah, I mean, that, that's the, that's the lifeblood of your business is we've talked about this before, is if you have a, that cool bar that you like, like and you're like making sure that they're having a good experience and they're You know, that just breeds more business and more repeat customers. And you know, like obviously as a restaurant or a bar, you're gonna But if you don't have a good stable of regular customers, then
Beth Caddy:At the same time, like it has been, I mean, the stage of my life And um, I look at my friends and I'd be like, But if I go again I was like, Oh, I hope not. But sometimes I feel that judgment, you know, not from the staff. It's like obviously my own inner, my own inner thoughts, but like Are you just happy to greet them, see them?
Alex Violette:It's like a, it's like a built in safety mechanism. You know, it keeps you like, Hey, it's almost like saying, Hey, I'm And if you say it to your friends, then you're like more likely to actually quit. And you're like, Hey, if I'm at my regular bar, I can't let them see me I gotta take a day off. And, and about regulars, that's one of those things when, when I walk into any Things are going well. You know, there, there are good guest experiences being created to the point
Beth Caddy:lot. I think like the culture though can be quite different in like Vietnam, you do have, my mom will be like, Oh, they're the regulars, you know, That's a place in Oxbridge. I mean here for example, like you see a lot of bars that don't And when I go to my favorite bar, like people are like, This is your table. As soon as I walk in and if someone else is at their table, I'm so sorry Beth. People are at your table. And I'm like, No, don't worry about it. But actually why did you get them? My table?
Alex Violette:We should probably just put your name
Mischa Smith:on it. At this point,
Beth Caddy:reservation for 365 days. 24 7. Beth Table.
Alex Violette:Yeah. Our producer just chimed in and said, it's a little demanding
Mischa Smith:in a good way. The
Beth Caddy:Mackay, I said I'm quite demanding customer, but not in a
Mischa Smith:bad way. Not in a bad way. There's a great YouTube clip of, uh, Norm from Cheers. Doesn't have you guys know the TV show. Cheers. Chili does. Am I, am I, am I aging myself? I'll just get started.. Cheers. So Cheers always has a, it's a, it's a, it was an old sitcom based in a bar, uh, He was there all the time and there were a lot of jokes made, riffing on that. And he always sit in the same bar stool. So he came outta the back. One time he finished a game at Pool, came up and there was He comes up and he, you know, sheepishly. Oh, sorry. No, that's my stool. I was sitting there and the guy, Oh, sorry. I didn't see anyone when I came in. He is, Yeah, no, like yesterday and. The day before that and, and the guy, okay, well, you know, we're just waiting Like it won't be too long. And then you can see him like really conflicted cuz he, he, that's his spot. So he kinda hems andhas and he is like, this is sound kind silly, but I'm Norm And the guy just takes it like, Oh, I know him. I'm Bob. Whatever's like, He's not getting it. So he fakes a heart attack. Everyone jumps up and goes out and he just slips over to his stool. I can
Beth Caddy:relate. I mean, as if I sit down on that table, that front table past and they have They've made a reservation. They want this table, and I'm. Okay. It's all right. But they, the staff kind of. This is where Beth wants to sit.
Mischa Smith:Yes.. Because that's where you always sit. You came in today. I was at the bar. You sat down like two seconds later here. Uncomfortable. Do you think we should go sit outside? Like at that front table? Do you? Beth, Beth Caddy: Can we please sit there? I just wanna sit there. No, but I love the way you phrased it. Do you think we should go sit outside?
Beth Caddy:Like I tried to spin it. I was like, I mean, it's not so hot outside. The fans are on. They should just go outside. Misha sits down, starts sweating bullets. I'm like, All right, we love it. Don't worry about it.
Mischa Smith:But no, there are definitely, Yeah, I've, There But you can't get upset if some random customers sitting No,
Beth Caddy:you can't get upset at all. Of course not. But at
Mischa Smith:the same time, I, I would though I always would
Beth Caddy:I mean, at the same time, like I say, I'm demanding. I'm not that demanding. But when I go to these places that I go to, I do have my spots right. My friend Mami used to be the worst. We used to go to Malt Bar and she could only sit one place in the bar, and if So we'd go on like Saturday afternoons and it's kind of like a little bit empty. It was only us. Normally, but if someone was sat on the outside where there was like a plug We're out. That
Mischa Smith:was our table at Malt too. Like when me and Dave and Maggie used to go there all the time, like It was like, who are these? Who do these people think they are? I'm so
Beth Caddy:glad I didn't see you there. That
Mischa Smith:would've been.
Alex Violette:I would always kinda post up right at the corner of a And this was like especially years ago when we were first And then I'd sit there and be talking to John and would just be talking What about this beer next? And just went on and on. Then we're checking our Google reviews and some guys. Awesome bar, but I wish the owners would stop just talking about work at the end Got it.
Mischa Smith:All
Beth Caddy:right. Well then a point taken. If you go to another bar, where do you sit?
Mischa Smith:Hey, we ask the questions here. We'll sit by there. In, in
Alex Violette:Vietnam the same place you do. I like to sit really close to the street and kind of see what's going on.
Beth Caddy:I, I, that's exactly what I said to Misha today. I was like, I sat here cuz it's a really, really good people watching space. You know, you see all these characters walk past looking. Should I go in? Should I not?
It's only 1:00 PM on a Sunday. I'm not ready. But I mean, it's a good
Mischa Smith:spot. You're free to
Alex Violette:invite them in anytime you see him. I'm the
Mischa Smith:man, Alex Violette: so maybe we should I had an interesting tangent off of that. I think it's interesting and this is by no means directed at you. But is there any point when a regular customer can be a little too comfortable I know. I'll give you an example. I know I've done it before. Just the other day, I was at a bar that I, I like to go to a lot and And I'm like, Okay, yeah, what's up? He was like, So the other night you were here, he said When these two guys walked in, one of them wanted to take you outside and beat you He's annoying, but he's fine and he's, And the owner said to me that the only This, this one guy who didn't know me and he wouldn't say exactly what I But you know, I think, I believe the story obviously. So I, I think the fact that I was at a bar where I feel really comfortable and I know I just got a little bit too entitled, got a little bit too loose, and I made some I would've
Alex Violette:bet money on it would've been changing the music.
Mischa Smith:No, no, no. They, they're very strict about the music there. They, the owners run the music and, and they don't, they don't take requests. I
Beth Caddy:mean, Misha, that doesn't sound anything like you you
Mischa Smith:inappropriate. It can be very demanding, but not in a bad
Beth Caddy:way. No, not at all. Like, Demanding. Not in a bad way.. Everybody loves me. What you're saying,. Mischa Smith: What is this mayor of up? I come to pasture quite often, as I've mentioned, and you know what? I just kept on saying, I deserve a title. I. Mischa Smith: Even though you job. Okay. I have clear memories of things happening in past Year Street where You know, you are doing a good job. And I'm like, Who me? I aren't even work here, but bring the crowd in. Yay.
Mischa Smith:Okay, so just so we're clear, a random customer told you So you think you actually have a job?
Beth Caddy:He's also a regular, I'm not sure of his name. However, he seems
Mischa Smith:to, Well
Beth Caddy:then you're not doing an awesome job. He, No, I don't need my name. I'm an enigma. I,
Mischa Smith:I
Alex Violette:think it's kind of official at this point, cuz I think We had this like ceremony to make you the
Beth Caddy:mayor, Alex. It wasn't after three or four beers. It was just after New Year's. It was the 1st of January. I said I deserve this. You said yes you do. You got me down on one knee and you had a pretend knife and you not knife sword. And you put it on one shoulder to the other shoulder and You Beth are knighted as me of past. And I said, You know what, I'll take it.
Mischa Smith:That's not how mayors or knighthoods
Beth Caddy:work. Does it matter? Cause I'm in the mayor anyway. Every time I see that man, that one man that told me I was doing a good job, every He literally got me to sing Happy at birthday to his fiance again. And he got my friends to also again, and then he came up to me You are so lovely. But can I tell you why I met him? The staff absolutely hated me. I was doing my , I wasn't the mayor yet, but he came in and he said, he said, Oh, I said, Oh, of course you can get a tower of beer. Is
Mischa Smith:that the guy that drove off with the Tower of Beer?
Beth Caddy:Kurt was there at that point, but he was like, Oh yeah. And I was like, Get that tower. Yeah, he's, What beer would I like? And I was like, Absolutely Jasmine ipa. And he was like, Okay, I'll. Got the, Jasmine didn't realize that he wasn't sitting there. Walked out with the Tower of beer, got on the back of a motorbike and I was like, I don't know. I just recommended him the Tower of Beer and he, and he left
Mischa Smith:and we never saw that tower again when he
Beth Caddy:came back every weekend. Because of me, the mayor,
Mischa Smith:I
Alex Violette:did so many restaurants with towers of beer. It's, it's like ubiquitous here. It's like in the United States it would be like a pitcher of beer. Like I've never seen anybody walk out of any place. With the tower of Beer. I think this guy just had something going on. I think he just wanted to steal it. No, but
Beth Caddy:it was the funniest sight I've ever seen in my life. Cuz he had the biggest smile on his face. His fiance, of course he did , his fiance was driving the bike. He walked out with the tower like in his arms, looking at me and I Oh yeah. I was like, Oh. And he. You're good. I said, I know. And then he got on the bike, smiled at me and he just drove off. And then I think you were there and you were like, Did that guy And I was like, Yeah. And you're like, He were loud. I was like, Maybe me. Mischa Smith: The fucking mayor. The mayor . Okay, so this dovetails perfectly with something we were are so comfortable with you that now if you bring someone in there, they Yeah. Do you see now why you told them to give this guy a tower beer and Not only without paying for the beer, also with the asset of the actual physical Claim you work for, but you take no responsibility for it. As I said, he's come back every weekend. He's paid his dues,, Alex Violette: so he comes Hey man, you know that tower like would like that back at
Mischa Smith:some point. I'm assuming he brought it back and paid for it. I'm assuming that, but I have
Beth Caddy:no, he thought I worked there, so it might have. It might have been a free tower. Who knows?
Mischa Smith:So you can see how you're a detriment to the company at this point.
Beth Caddy:I'm the
Alex Violette:mayor. Yeah. I see it as an, as an asset. The best ideas are usually coming from your customers or you know, your servers. The people that are like interacting and I think Towers at home,
Beth Caddy:Towers at home. He walked in.
Mischa Smith:I mean,
Alex Violette:I'm live in a tower.. Might as well drink
Beth Caddy:my beer out of one. Not everyone lives in a tower. He might not. It's okay. He walked in not as Scooby about what to drink. He was like, What do I want? Do I want this? Do I want that? I said, I know what you want. And that's a bit of jazzy in your life. Scooby do clue. And at the same time, you know what, you guys have a business However, there's a butt jazzy at pasi. No one's gonna get a better ring, but do you wanna grab a jazzy at Pai? And people that I don't even know now say, Do you wanna go to Pai? And I'm like, You, you know, You know Pai for one, You're
Mischa Smith:Pai for one. You're stepping on some of my, uh, factor fiction for later. So
Beth Caddy:I don't know, there could be a shirt coming out. Jazzy up, Pazi. That's all for the mayor. I
Mischa Smith:mean, it sounds
Alex Violette:better than Psbc.
Beth Caddy:It does. When sometimes I get messages wanna meet at Psbc, I'm like, what? What is that you're talking about
Mischa Smith:pasi? Are you, are you genuinely confused about what those initials are?
Beth Caddy:Acronyms. Get me all silly. Don't understand it. Just say the word We're okay.
Alex Violette:I feel like it might be fun to, to call the tap A tower for delivery and see what
Mischa Smith:happens.
Beth Caddy:Can I get a tower of jazz from Pai if I, If honesty,
Alex Violette:voice. I'm gonna put it on speaker. I'm gonna call or see if we can get a tower of jazz Jazzy from Pazi. Yeah. Delivered to a tower like that. Jazz. So, sorry, you're gonna be talking, I'm just gonna hold the phone right. And it'll be on speaker and they'll be able to hear you. You can hear them through the mic. This all all work out. Okay.
Beth Caddy:Hi. Hi, Annie. Annie. Oy. AB bet. Oh hey. How you doing? I'm good. Glad I honored me, right? Yeah. Can I get a Tower of Jazzy A what? A tower. A tower of jazz. A tower? Yes, please. So where I. Where are you now? I'm at, I'm at Alex's house. Can you get me a tower of jazz? How can I bring a power go there, man? Because you can put it on the bike. She said yes, but like with me, not possible, you know? Oh, I can put around or power. You been a r? No, I mean, the tower. It's not
Mischa Smith:adoptable. I'm really happy that that's the answer., Beth Caddy: I mean, are we ordering Ara? No, we have King. Oh, okay. No, no, actually we're, Okay. I'll just come back to the tap room later. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thanks ti. Bye. See, different things would happen if I was the. Yes, much worse
Beth Caddy:things. It's not possible, let me tell you. It's possible. I've seen it. So, but it's
Mischa Smith:possible for a regular customer to steal a tower I'm sorry. Don't be sorry. Just change. It's too better. I'm sorry. Uh, obviously you mentioned the, the staff being friendly and welcoming, identified as the most important part is what's the secondary and tertiary To be a regular customer at a bar.
Beth Caddy:Again, I'm talking about the same place just because I'm Yep. So for example, like coming after coming to the tap room It's nearly Christmas, or it's like nearly Halloween. I've been asked like, you know, Oh, help put up these lights. Oh, how do you think this looks? Should I change this? Should I do this? And that. It's, I mean, you are shaking your head. I know you don't like it.
Mischa Smith:No, Misha wants Christmas. I'm, I don't, Sorry, go ahead. Especially the music
Beth Caddy:mayor slash interior designer. I'll take it. So the
Mischa Smith:reason I don't like it is because they're enabling this Because I
Beth Caddy:do. You don't. I do. This started with Kurt. Okay. I would come there and Kurt would be like, Should this be like And then he would be like, I can't get up on that. I'm gonna break the ledge. And I'd be like, You know what? I'll do it for you and I'll put up all the lights, or I'll tell him how I told you it was, When was it? It made me been St. Patty's day cut. My first car bomb from. The, the drink, obviously. And that wa that blew my socks off. That was absolutely mental. Loved
Mischa Smith:it. Okay, so to answer my question, besides the staff, what do you, what
Beth Caddy:Okay. Yes, it is the staff at the same time. I will, I can branch out a little bit. Yeah. What else?
Mischa Smith:What are the other factors?
Beth Caddy:I like a place that feels comfortable, you know, like I can drink a soda water, I can drink a Coke. It doesn't matter. But just a place that I feel comfortable.
Mischa Smith:Okay. So how as, as far as bars go, Forget restaurants, obviously, because I'm not someone
Beth Caddy:that likes to eat out a lot, but at the same time, yeah, have a And I mean, anyone that's been living in Saigon or Vietnam will Day to day, you don't have to dress up or impress or whatever. So I also, that's another thing that I like about a bar that I go to is little bit of a scr and not have to really worry those places where you I mean, I know I should, however, I'm not into it. I don't like to be there with. People that are dressed to the nines when I'm just wearing my baggy
Alex Violette:know, I couldn't agree with you more on that one. When I walk into a place and I'm like, people are here to be seen, it's almost I, I don't know if I wanna be a part of this today. Exactly.
Beth Caddy:Maybe I don't, I don't wanna be in the background. Maybe I don't wanna be next to an influencer. I don't wanna be a part of that. I'm very happy with my, not my pajamas. That could pass as pajamas in a bar.
Alex Violette:I, I just feel though, when you go into a place like that, It's just gonna be like how everybody wants to look or wants to be seen, It's a, it's a exhausting.
Beth Caddy:Yeah. And I feel like maybe that comes back to also even the UK people Sometimes like builders, they're workers. They, they don't really mind coming in their, their workloads, and that's So going to a, a bar where people are dressed up and whatever, I They're just getting a lot of like, attraction for the So it makes a, it makes a difference.
Alex Violette:Yeah, everybody should be comfortable. And if you feel uncomfortable because of what you're wearing in a place, It's
Mischa Smith:something that's very important for me when I'm going to It's the music I a hundred percent. Great. So then how, how bad would the music have to be at a bar that you otherwise love? For you to like stop going or go less regularly?
Beth Caddy:Going back to demanding. I've, I've had to ask people to stop playing that music. Sure. You know, Come on.
Like it's 3:00 PM in the afternoon. We do not need to be listening to hardcore hiphop right now, as
Mischa Smith:opposed to 3:00 PM in the morning. Yes, there it should be, The music should be appropriate to the time of day
Beth Caddy:on. Also, the bars that I choose aren't bars that are playing those kind Right.
Mischa Smith:I think Alex has mentioned this before, like Like a sit down bar where you're having a conversation with your The only thing music can do at a bar really is if it's bad enough to, people
Beth Caddy:here. Yeah, that's 100% true. You, I mean, if you're not comfortable enough with the staff to be like, Like then yeah, you leave, but also, Like you said, bad music, Like I hear some of the music at my favorite places and I'm like, Oh So music is definitely key to a good experience in a
Mischa Smith:bar. I agree. The problem with that, of course, is that you have so many customers,
Beth Caddy:all the time. Who wants listen to he up at 3:00 PM Who's that lit? Then I gotta get permission to change the music. And I'm like, you don't, even if I, you don't know me, I'm the mayor. So
Mischa Smith:if you were actually the mayor and employed by us, You should be able to just do that on your own. I got in trouble for changing the music. So if I, if I'm getting in trouble then you're definitely rehearsal as the
Alex Violette:mayor, you know, when different like holidays came throughout
Beth Caddy:Absolutely not. Absolutely
Mischa Smith:not. Beth, you're fucking hired.
Beth Caddy:No, I think that some bars that I've been to don't I mean, I, I sit outside, you know, so you don't, but it's the But I mean, There's one thing, having ship music, there's one thing You know, if you're the first person walking in a bar at Sunday, on Sunday and Maybe
Mischa Smith:the stop hiphop, rap r and
Beth Caddy:b. Maybe that's what the staff wanna listen to. Maybe that needs to like, you know, Are
Mischa Smith:you talking about like Vietnamese versions of these genres or No,
Beth Caddy:no, I'm not talking about Vietnamese
Mischa Smith:version. American hiphop rap and r b. Yeah, like I, So you don't like
Beth Caddy:black people bottom jeans books
Mischa Smith:or the, You don't like black people. And you know,
Beth Caddy:I dance to that song like it was no other when I was 17. I'm 29. Do not need to listen to that. Excuse
Mischa Smith:you. I was joking. I'm much older than you are , but that's, I was being facetious Uh, Beth, at your request, we're gonna do a little, uh, Kurt Kaiser corner. So what do you wanna say about Kurt? We all miss him. We all wish you'd come back. What is it about Kurt that made him one of the best bar managers
Beth Caddy:Is an awesome person. I mean, this is very relative to just like Saigon, Orion as a place in Vietnam, so But Kurt was the reason I fell in love with Pasture Street. I just remember when it was. You could get beer pickups and you just, obviously everyone was walking around. Everyone, no one was like, Oh yeah, let me drive my bike, because we had no idea So we were walking, walking, and I just remember seeing this curly head man. Sitting in front of Pasture Street and he was just like, Oh wait, wanna try beer? And it was just like, Oh yeah, of course. He was like, What do you like what gave me my Jasmine ipa, which I had had before. But I mean, when you have a memory with someone, it becomes that much And I used to go back every day just for Kurt, and it was, I mean, I love him. And when everything opened up, Like Kurt is a magnet. He brought everybody in. People like still talk about him. He's been gone for a couple of years. It's like still talk about him. Oh yeah. Kurt. Kurt. I have really, really fond memories of him and I would literally like finish just get past past street in tody and still catch him for like the last And I love him. But the detriment to me, normally it's right, I drink all weekend Monday, let's, let's try this. Let's just try this sober thing, you know? And I used to tell myself the whole way home, you are not having a drink. You were not gonna do it. And then I'd be like, and as soon as I enter tied in, I'm like, hmm. I'll drive past pasture. If I look through that window and I see that curly hair It's a sign. And what would happen every Monday, I'd drive past and see that curly hair in the That's me. And I go In, what happens five Jasmine's later? I'm like, Whoa. Good. Here we are. And yeah, just. Good friend. Really good friend, you know? Yeah. Talk a lot. So two things off that also, I never knew his surname was Kaiser. Is that like a song? Ruby. Ruby. Ruby. Ruby.
Mischa Smith:Ah, that's the Kaiser Chiefs. Yeah.
Beth Caddy:Is he part of it?. Mischa Smith: Alice, No.
Alex Violette:No. I mean like, not like that. I can't confirm or deny, but no, he's not in the band to the best of my
Mischa Smith:knowledge, but that's his real.
Alex Violette:That is his real surname. Okay.
Mischa Smith:I believe.
Beth Caddy:Okay.. He's like Cosmo Kramer.
Mischa Smith:He's a fucking
Beth Caddy:mystery. But I said, I'm an nema. Maybe Kurt is too.
Mischa Smith:A little bit. Yeah. So two things off the back of that, I, I've done the same, not with Kurt home down Sun twe like, Oh, if I see like you and Lexi or you and Lucy, I'm Go see the girls. And then Kurt for me, like the. His biggest talent that I saw when he was here was just There was a lot of young Vietnamese staff who were all like really shy and quiet, He gave 'em the confidence to be more like him for, for lack of a better, And now outgoing staff who talk to customers and make them feel comfortable and make them
Beth Caddy:I don't, I don't even think. Translated to just the staff. Kurt helped me heaps. You know, like he would, if any, any day I was having a down moment, mention it to Like he was so attentive and just, he just knew, He just knew his, He knew everyone. Yeah, he's a big loss right now, but he'll be back and he's not dead. I know that's, But I mean, he's coming back. He's coming back. Cool. I'm like, love that. He's a bit, and if you know what I mean, You know what I mean?
Alex Violette:Where I, uh, worked with Kurt, we actually had a bear.
Mischa Smith:That's a lie, like a
Alex Violette:real
Mischa Smith:stuffed bear is that factor fiction , which Oh, that is a fact. Which leads us nicely to our final segment. So Beth, Beth, every guest that we have on, we do a little At the end, I am going to make some statements that, uh, Ooh. And you are gonna tell me whether they are fact. Or
Beth Caddy:fiction. Okay. Is it like that kind of game where you've gotta be like 1, 2, 3, or have a second to
Mischa Smith:think about it? You can think about it if it jogs some kind of story, you can go ahead. If you just wanna leave it as one word answer, you can do that too. Got it. We've covered some of this stuff in the interview already, but This is a fact or this is fiction, so
Beth Caddy:I'm okay,
Mischa Smith:I'm ready. Do you know what the word fiction.
Beth Caddy:Fact or fiction? Yes. I understand. Fiction is the opposite of fact fiction or nonfiction. You may call it, You
Mischa Smith:may, That's not what we call it here. It's uh, beer stories.. Okay. Fact or fiction. You are the mayor of Pastor Street Fact disagree. Factor Fiction. You coined a nickname for our Jasmine ipa. Fact, That's correct. Factor Fiction. You're from Africa.
Beth Caddy:Oh, culturally fact LED fiction. Okay. Can I be in between? What's the in between of it? Middle ground. I'm on the fence.
Mischa Smith:I'm on the fence. Okay. Do you wanna explain your lineage or you just good to
Beth Caddy:fence? Um, I mean, maybe I should just get
Mischa Smith:it out. Factor . Sorry. No, go.
Beth Caddy:Carry on. No, no, go ahead. No, I mean, I've just, I've said it so many times. Let's just get it out there into the universe. Okay. Born in the uk. Parents are British. Year and a half living there. Move to South Africa 20 years. Next place, Vietnam.
Mischa Smith:Okay. Next factor Fiction. You have to ask for your bill on average, about four times per bar
Beth Caddy:Don't have to do that. They know who's there.
Mischa Smith:I don't mean that you ask and then they like forget about you. I mean that. You ask for the bill and then you order another beer. Oh, and ask for your bill again, and then order another beer That's
Beth Caddy:fact. Yeah, that's fact. Yeah. Can't get enough.
Mischa Smith:That's fact . It's my favorite thing to see you do You know you're gonna have at least two more beers. And you're like, No, this is my last one. That's why I'm getting my bill. I'm like, We will see.
Beth Caddy:That's fact. If there was never, Yeah.
Mischa Smith:Factor fiction used to hate me. Fact, we don't need to elaborate on that. factor fiction. Kurt Kaiser is coming back to Vietnam.
Beth Caddy:Absolutely. A hundred percent fact
Mischa Smith:stamp died in the wall. Fact, Yes. Also
Beth Caddy:hold the phone.
Mischa Smith:Fact or fiction. I am holding the phone . Good
Beth Caddy:fact or fiction used to find me annoying.
Mischa Smith:Oh yeah. Fact, there go. But you say that I u. That we used to hate each other. I never hated you. You hated
Beth Caddy:me. I couldn't say your name. The time I met you. I called Mika. Yeah. That's annoying. Yeah, but I told you I'm really bad at names.
Mischa Smith:I feel like
Alex Violette:in all fairness, hate was
Mischa Smith:in the
Beth Caddy:question. Hate was in the,
Mischa Smith:be honest the
Alex Violette:The non-question. The statement. The statement, Yeah.
Mischa Smith:That you have to answer, because Beth tells people that we She got annoyed that she got my name wrong every
Beth Caddy:time. Every time I came in, I was trying to be super polite. Hey Mika. He was like, It's not Mika, it's Misha. And then it kept on happening and that one time I hugged him, I said, Hey,
Mischa Smith:So sorry. To your recollection, how many times did it take me to correct you
Beth Caddy:At least seven
Mischa Smith:Thank you. On the record factor fiction, Pastor Street Brewing Company delivers towers Uh, Fiction. That's correct. Was always this and always this. She'll be mm-hmm.. Awesome. Beth, is there any, anything you wanna plug? Anything that you're doing? Anything you wanna tell our listeners about? I'm
Beth Caddy:just, I hope they've enjoyed this and had a laugh like we've had.
Mischa Smith:Awesome. Alex, you both said it all. Great. Thanks again to our producer, Niall Mackay and her composer Lewis This has been very stories. That's us on the ones, Did you just fucking walk all over my exit?
Beth Caddy:That's
Mischa Smith:just us. The one I'm fucking wrapping it up.
Beth Caddy:We don't like rap. We're on the ones and twos. And the ones and
Mischa Smith:twos. What the fuck is happening right now? No, keep it in. This has been ear stories.
Beth Caddy:Thanks for having us today. Gee,
Mischa Smith:I swear to God, we're done.