Scots brewer BrewDog launches anti-Putin beer

SCOTTISH craft brewery BrewDog has revealed the world’s first ever ‘protest beer’, designed to mock Russian President Vladimir Putin’s discriminatory legislation introduced ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

By The Newsroom Tuesday, 4th February 2014, 10:33 am

The new beer carries an Andy Warhol-esque image of Vladimir Putin. Picture: Contributed

‘Hello My Name is Vladimir’ is a craft beer carrying the slogan ‘not for gays’, with an Andy Warhol-esque image of President Putin wearing make-up on the label.

The beer has been launched to support LGBT communities by undermining the potential of the Winter Olympics to avert attention from Russia’s recent legislation outlawing ‘homosexual propaganda’.

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The Aberdeen-based beer firm have sent a case of the limited edition ale to Putin himself, and will be donating 50 per cent of profits from public sale to charities helping oppressed minorities around the world.

BrewDog co-founder James Watt. Picture: Contributed

Co-founder James Watt joked: “As ‘Hello My Name is Vladimir’ is clearly marked ‘not for gays’ we should bypass the legislation introduced by Putin outlawing supposed ‘homosexual propaganda’ so Vlad shouldn’t have an issue with it.

The beer, an 8.2 per cent ABV double IPA containing Russian Limonnik berries, carries a warning that it ‘may contain traces of sarcasm’.

Watt added: “It’s been our mission at BrewDog to upend the status quo in whatever form it occurs. Whether it’s the stranglehold the mega brewers have had on beer production in Europe over the last 50 years, or in the case of Russia, the sick legislation that discriminates against millions of its citizens.”

‘Hello My Name is Vladimir’ is the latest in a number of BrewDog creations designed to make an impact during major events.

In 2012, the company launched ‘Never Mind the Anabolics’, a beer laced with steroids poking fun at Heineken’s sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics.

The Putin-inspired brew is on sale from brewdog.com now, and the firm is attempting to mount global social media pressure on the Russian president using the hashtag #notforgays.