Lucky Goat brews recipe from Ukrainian brewery for charity

May 4, 2022

Selling alcohol was forbidden in areas of Ukraine as part of the war effort earlier in March, but that hasn’t stopped one brewery from sharing its recipes with the world — including Lucky Goat Brewing.

The Wareham brewery’s latest recipe hails from Pravda Brewery, which is located in Ukraine’s capital city, war-ravaged Kiev. The beer’s name reflects the country’s feelings toward its aggressor.

The brew is named “Putin Huylo,” after the president and a Russian insult.

The Ukrainian brewery began distributing four of its recipes in late March after the sale of alcohol was banned in Kiev because of the war, according to Pravda’s Facebook page. Since then, alcohol restrictions have relaxed slightly, though breweries across the globe have continued to “Brew for Ukraine,” according to social media.

Several weeks ago, Lucky Goat Brewing co-owner Aaron Perry found Pravda’s posts on Facebook.

Then he started brewing.

“They put out a Facebook post and said, ‘We’re releasing all of our beers to be brewed,’ — released the recipes for the world — And said, ‘please donate,” Perry said of Pravda.

A shared Google Drive folder holds the recipes for Pravda’s beers. Spreadsheets detail the spices, boil time and hops prescribed for each brew, while a different folder offers brewers graphic designs they can slap on beer cans: one depicts a naked, frowning Putin sitting atop a throne.

Exactly one keg of Putin Huylo will be available on tap starting Wednesday, May 4, Perry said, and a portion of the sales will go toward Ukrainian charities recommended by Pravda.

The beer is strong — a mix of Belgian strong ale and American hops. Taking a few sips, co-owner Kendall Peabody described the beer as having notes of banana and clove with a slight back bitterness and yeasty taste.

“It’s as strong as the Ukrainian spirit,” he quipped from behind Lucky Goat’s bar. “We’re calling it ‘Ukraine Strong.’”

As of April 20, Lucky Goat was one of 472 breweries worldwide involved in the recipe-sharing initiative. The next day, Pravda announced that it had received 41,300 euros in donations, about $43,545.

Funds have gone toward a flood of war aid, the Kiev brewery said on its Facebook page.

Rifle support systems. Food. A used pickup truck. Tactical clocks for “the intelligence squad,” and medical operations for a girl from Chernihiv who lost her hand.

“As peaceful craft brewers, we want to return to the normal life asap and enjoy brewing and drinking,” a post on Pravda’s website reads. “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 [we] will win this war and have a good beer: The Beer of Victory.”