This seems to be a common question, so I thought I'd post it as a separate thread that can be found with a simple search, looking for words such as "pronomen" "butcherblock" and "stain". And truth be told, I didn't do most of the finishing work, none of the staining and maybe half of the waterloxing, the wife did much of it.
You can see almost finished pictures of the kitchen here:
Picasa Web Albums - Archana - Kitchen remodel
Before staining, I recommend that you sand the countertop, preferably with an orbital or mouse type sander that won't damage the wood. I started with 120 grit and finished with 200 grit.
The countertop is Pronomen Beech, stained with a mix of Olympic Dark Walnut (80%) and a Minwax Mahogany (20%). We used a small measuring cup to measure the two oil-based stains into a canning jar after testing multiple colors individually and not liking what we saw. I personally prefer applying thinner coats of stain so I don't have to go back and wipe up the excess. Applied with a lint-free rag, wearing vinyl gloves to keep the hands clean (when we remembered to put them on).
One caveat - the ends stain darker than top surface. Applying a wood conditioner for porous woods helps. Make sure you stain a few inches in on the bottom side of the countertop as well.
How I Stained My Butcherblock Countertop
Though we did not apply two coats, I would recommend a second coat to get the stain deeper into the wood. Nicks won't show as easily...
After applying the stain, wait a few days. On my test pieces, Waterlox seemed to seal better on the piece that I let dry for 4 days vs. the one that dried for 2 days.
Waterlox was applied in the garage in the morning and late evening. The weather wasn't terribly warm, so we had time to make sure the coats were nice and even before they started drying. The grain may raise up in a few places. Lightly use a fine (200+) grit sandpaper and sand it by hand. Too much sanding, which is any mechanical sanding, and you'll likely need to restain.
My technique for using Waterlox was to pour a small quantity onto the counter and use a rag to smooth it out. Always try to work in the direction of the grain of the wood. Long, smooth, strokes will give the best finish.
How do you know if you have enough Waterlox on the countertop? You'll notice a glossy sheen and water will bead up without problem. I think all pieces of our countertop received at least 4 coats, some received 6.
How I Stained My Butcherblock Countertop
I don't really have many pictures of the installation... though there are lots of threads out there on that topic. As you see in the next pic, the countertop does span the dishwasher. I purchased a biscuit joiner ($100) and polyurethane glue to butt the two pieces together. Use wood glue instead, it should be strong enough and it doesn't foam and push the pieces apart. To further support the span, I used four mending plates (heavy duty ones!). The joint doesn't even flex when I sit on it. And the biscuit joiner? Very easy to use.
How I Stained My Butcherblock Countertop
How I Stained My Butcherblock Countertop
The end result? Take a look at the website linked above. It's been two months and they are pretty much as good as new, except where I dropped a cover panel, corner first. Thankfully the Minwax stain pen took care of that pretty well and no one has noticed the dent.
Are you a DIYer? Check out the 
Are you a Pro? Check out the 
And if you ever have a question, PLEASE feel free to PM me. Seriously. I'm happy to help you.
