The nation is being invited to raise a glass and money for the people of Ukraine on Thursday, 14th April at 6pm after 30,000 pints-worth of Kyiv-based Varvar Brew’s craft beer was rescued from the country and brought to the UK for fundraising purposes.
The initiative has been set up by Hertfordshire-based importer and distributor Euroboozer with the first load of beer successfully arriving at their HQ on Friday 8th April, after a difficult and much-delayed journey out of Kyiv, not to mention from Dover.
The much-prized stock, which sold out in days of the initiative being launched, is now eagerly being delivered to the hundreds of pubs, bars, restaurants and retailers who pre-ordered the beer in a massive show of support for the people of Ukraine.
The businesses will all be making the beers available for consumers to buy from 4pm on 14th April alongside various fundraising initiatives for www.drinkersforukraine.com.
For the full list of venues in your area stocking Varvar Brew’s eclectic selection of crafts beers and to find out where and how you can help support them and raise even more money, visit https://www.euroboozer.co.uk/blog/varvarlands
Drinkers and retailers are being asked to share their pictures on social media at 6pm on the 14th April using the hashtag #CheersForUkraine #DrinkersForUkraine.
Martyn Railton, MD of Euroboozer, said:
“It’s been far from straight-forward but we’re delighted to announce that the Varvar beer rescue has been a complete success and the lorry arrived at our HQ today. We have a big job to now get the beer delivered to the incredible bars, pubs, restaurants and retailers who have bought into the initiative but we’re confident, especially with some incredible offers of help from the likes of Salcombe Brewery and Tiny Rebel, that fridges and shelves will be stocked across the UK with amazing Ukraine beer by Thursday 14th April. We now just need the country to show their support in probably the best way, by heading into the venues, drinking beer and raising a glass at 6pm.”
The story so far….
Kicked off on the 25th March, the initial plan was to rescue roughly 45,000 pints of beer from Varvar Brew, which has had to close down since the invasion. The brewery was desperate to sell its stock to raise much-needed funds for food, medicine, to pay taxes and wages, and to support the country as a whole.
Thanks to the incredible backing from the On and Off-trade in the UK, the stock was pre-ordered and sold out within days of the launch.
Euroboozer then, with much difficulty, organised for the first lorry to set off from Kyiv on the 31st March. The lorry passed the Ukraine border on the 4th April and safely arrived at Euroboozer HQ on Friday 8th April.
In addition to paying Varvar the full price for the stock (around €55,458.86 so far), Euroboozer will also be donating all profits from the sale of the beer to www.drinkersforukraine.com, which is raising money for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
For retailers, restaurants, pubs and bars interested in being involved and stocking the beers, visit www.euroboozer.co.uk/blog/varvarbrew.
About Varvar Brew
An independent and ambitious craft brewery founded in a former sawmill in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2015. With a passion for brewing great beers, the brewery has garnered a loyal following within Ukraine’s burgeoning craft beer scene. Running two brewhouses – 2,000 L and 500 L, they produce over 750,000 L of beer per year across four lines; traditional craft, modern craft, barrel-aged and sours, and experimental.
Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe so the brewery often incorporates fruits, berries and herbs, as well as some more unusual ingredients – tomato, gherkin, horseradish, beetroot, birch sap and seaweed into its recipes. Taking great pride in representing their country at international competitions, festivals, and in collaborations, the brewery aims to show the world what Ukraine has to offer.
Some of the brewery’s recent tours of the UK have included collaborations with Siren (Mavka, imperial porter), Marble (Reminiscence, old ale), Pomona Island (Ratamahatta, NEIPA), Carnival (Muddler, imperial gose), North (Smoked Stout, stout), Heist (Limbo Shots, NEIPA), and Neon Raptor (Rise & Paul, NEIPA).
For further information visit – www.varvarbrew.com.
About Euroboozer
Started from the back of an old VW Vento in 2003, Euroboozer was set up by beer lover Martyn Railton, initially importing Austrian brands Stiegl, Schremser and Hirter. The company soon branched out across Europe and the Atlantic helping to drive the craft beer trend in the UK.
Nineteen years on the VW Vento has gone to be replaced with offices and a warehouse in Hertfordshire and Euroboozer now supplies some of the finest food and beverage establishments and retailers in the country.
In addition to the Austrian beers, the company exclusively distributes Andechs, Blakstoc, Harpoon and Other Half, as well as ten exciting Czech craft breweries and a host of leading UK brewers.
For further information, please visit www.euroboozer.co.uk or follow on Instagram – @euroboozer and Twitter @Euroboozer.
Press release from Euroboozer
Contact: sam@hungrycommunications.co.uk