Ukraine’s Pravda Brewery Defies Oppression with Beer

Forced to pivot their own brewing operations, Lviv’s Pravda Brewery is encouraging other craft brewers around the world to “brew for Ukraine.” 

The collaborative spirit runs strong through the world of craft brewing. In sharp contrast to the macro breweries run with corporate models, independent operations have long shared recipes and ideas, worked together on special releases, and even openly praised one another. Now in response to one brave Ukrainian brewery, craft brewers around the world are taking that sense of community further.

On March 8, Lviv’s Pravda Brewery hosted an online international brewing collaboration, inviting whoever wished to participate. In a statement on their website, the brewers say:

“Brewing in Lviv now sounds like a non-priority. The city is bracing for a fight. Alcohol is forbidden, and we once in a lifetime support it. But brewing now – like giving birth or a marriage – is hope. Beer takes several weeks to be ready. We hope we win by then… As peaceful craft brewers, we want to return to the normal life asap and enjoy brewing and drinking. But first we must kick the cockroaches out of our land. No more Gulags, Holodomors and oppression. It’s a decisive moment for Ukraine, Europe and democracies of the world.

Soon will win this war and have a good beer. The Beer of Victory.”

Titled “Brew For Ukraine,” Pravda’s initiative has since exploded into an ongoing international brewing effort. The brewery has shared five recipes for their “Victory Beer Series” online, complete with label artwork.

Never ones to shy away from politically-named beers (previous releases have referenced various political leaders, including American presidents), Pravda’s special lineup is as follows:

• PUTIN HUYLO — dry hopped Strong Ale
• SYLA — Belgian Tripel
• RED EYES American Red Ale
• FRAU RIBBENTROP — Belgian Witbier
• FROM SAN TO DON — Ukrainian Imperial Stout

Full recipes and special label artwork can be found for free access on Pravda Brewery’s website. There are also instructions for direct donations in USD, EUR, and UAH.

The international brewing collaboration is just part of the effort. On February 27, Pravda Brewery revealed on Instagram that they’d swapped out beer for Molotov cocktails and asked for donations to the Ukrainian army.

Beer rating site, Untappd, has meanwhile released a “Support for Ukraine” badge for meant to highlight beers that have been brewed in support of Ukraine or with the goal of fundraising. The full list of these beers can be viewed here. On the “Brew for Ukraine” Facebook page, it was also announced that Untappd has donated an unspecified amount to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pravda Brewery was known as a hotspot in western Ukraine for craft beer. Self-described as dedicated to giving the city of Lviv its own beer style as well as making “the world’s diversity of beer available in Ukraine,” Pravda gained worldwide attentions with a medal at the Brussels Beer Challenge in 2017. To date, the brewery has claimed 11 awards at international beer competitions.

In addition to its beer acclaim, Pravda has also earned nods as an exciting part of the city’s nightlife. Lonely Planet describes Pravda Beer Theatre (the name of the brewery and taproom) as “a dramatically industrial, multistorey beer temple right on pl Rynok.”

While Lviv has been relatively untouched since the onset of the invasion on February 24, Russia expanded their airstrikes to targets within the city on Friday, March 18. As of March 19, Pravda is still active on social media.

“Brew For Ukraine” beers are starting to be released at breweries across the United States and various other countries around the world.