diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-docker-image.yml b/.github/workflows/build-docker-image.yml
index 6e44aebe..3db5cb0c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-docker-image.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-docker-image.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 name: Build Docker image
+# This workflow builds the conda-store-ui docker image for each
+# pull request. This will ensure that no PR is breaking the docker
+# image, which will be built and pushed to GHCR when a new release
+# is cut.
 
 on:
   pull_request:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 78e06898..4d15775c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           images: |
             ${{ env.GH_CONTAINER_REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
+          # ref: https://github.com/docker/metadata-action?tab=readme-ov-file#typeref
+          # create tags for:
+          #  * the GH tag (eg. 2025.1.8)
+          #  * the branch (eg. main)
+          #  * the commit sha (eg. sha-860c190)
           tags: |
             type=ref,event=tag
             type=ref,event=branch
@@ -193,6 +198,7 @@ jobs:
             ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
           push: true
           labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
+          # ref https://docs.docker.com/build/ci/github-actions/cache/
           cache-from: type=gha
           cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
       
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index bda6ff0a..14a6a0b8 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 1. Create a new branch for the release `git checkout -b release-2024.9.1`
 1. Clean the branch `git clean -fxdq`
 1. Increment the version in `package.json` following our [version specification](https://conda.store/community/maintenance/release/#calver-details)
+
+## Part 1: Build and release the npm package
 1. Build the package locally:
 
    ```bash
@@ -35,6 +37,21 @@
 
 If the dry run looks good, continue with the release checklist items.
 
+## Part 2: Build and release the docker image
+
+1. Build the docker image:
+
+  ```bash
+  docker build -t conda-incubator/conda-store-ui:<release version - eg. 2024.11.1> --target prod . 
+  ```
+
+2. Push the image to [GitHub's container registry](https://docs.github.com/en/packages/working-with-a-github-packages-registry/working-with-the-container-registry#pushing-container-images)
+
+  ```bash
+  # ensure you are authenticated with github
+  docker push ghcr.io/conda-incubator/conda-store-ui:<release version - eg. 2024.11.1>
+  ```
+
 ## Troubleshooting notes
 
 - If there are issues with the [GitHub Release UI](https://github.com/conda-incubator/conda-store-ui/releases/new), ensure that whatever code you published is checked into git, then tag and push both the commit and the tag: