Why A Ukrainian Brewery Is Asking Other Brewers To Make Its Beers

When those in-the-know talk about Ukrainian beer, they're likely talking about Pravda Brewery, which, since it opened in 2014, has been devoted to crafting a distinctive Ukrainian style of beer. "Ukraine doesn't have a beer history for itself, so we need to build it. And it's the best time for it because craft brewing is so inventing, trendy, and everything, so we can find our way through this," says Julie, a brewer at Pravda to Slight North. And before the war, this well-known brewery had 14 international awards, was known for producing one million liters of beer every year, and made three of the top 10 best beers of Ukraine by Rate Beer. 

Since the war with Russia began, Pravda has opted to pivot instead of choosing to conduct its beverage business as usual. Instead of producing beers, they are making an alcohol mix of a different kind. The Lviv-based brewery is now cooking up Molotov cocktails. Its owner, Yuriy Zastavny, tells France 24, "We do this because someone has to. We have the skills. We went through a street revolution in 2014. We had to make and use Molotov cocktails then."

Pravda's hasn't given up on its dream of making award-winning beer. Today, instead of exporting beers, the brewery has opted to share the recipes of five of its best-selling beers: the dry-hopped ale Putin Huylo (an insult aimed at the Russian president); Syla — a Belgian tripel; Red Eyes — an American red ale; Frau Ribbentrop — a Belgian witbier; and From San to Don — a Ukrainian imperial stout.

On its page calling for fellow brewers to "Brew for Ukraine," Pravda sent a message to fellow breweries, saying, "We invite prominent craft breweries to join us for online brewing sessions. We will stream the process. Join in with support and donations as we brew in Lviv, the city that prepares for the battle." It appears, via Facebook, that several breweries around the world, including several in the United States, have taken up Pravda's cause. Head of Wilmington Brew Works and armed forces veteran Craig Wensell called the Brew for Ukraine campaign "a stroke of genius," as reported by 6abc. He also says, "We know the Russians are not very kind to people that stand up to them. These brewers are literally putting their necks on the chopping block in order to help their country."

Wensell said he reached out to Pravda on Facebook, and in response, they sent him the recipe for the Imperial Ukrainian Stout, saying: "We hope to be drinking this beer in a country that has won the war."