Brewers Are Making a Beer To Raise Funds for Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief
They're asking other brewers to make this open-sourced recipe from a Kyiv brewery
Two brewers — one in Tampa and one in New York State — are asking brewers around the world to brew Resolve, an open-source beer to raise money for Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief and World Central Kitchen.
So far, over 20 breweries have pledged to make the beer, a Kellerbier named Resolve. The recipe comes from Naz Drebot, the brewer/owner of 2085 Brewery in Kyiv, Ukraine.
A few years back. Drebot was working at 42 North Brewing Company as brewer, alongside Clay Keel and 42 North’s owner, John Cimperman. Keel went on to open Keel Farms Agrarian Ale + Cider and Drebot took his beermaking knowledge back to Europe where he worked at a Heineken-owned microbrewery before opening his own brewery.
2085 Brewery, located in Ukraine’s bustling city of Kyiv, was a success and the culmination of Drebot’s dreams — until a few weeks ago when he and his partner were forced to lock the doors to the brewery and leave Kyiv.
Keel, who has been in touch with Drebot, says that he’s safe for now — choosing to stay and fight for his country. “He’s evacuated to another part of Ukraine that has been hit by missiles, but is apart from the day-to-day attacks,” says Keel.
Keel and Cimperman wanted to do something to help their friend from the other side of the world, so they decided to ask brewers around the world to brew one of the beers from 2085 Brewery as a show of solidarity and to raise funds to help Ukrainian citizens. Drebot was motivated by the support, says Keel. “He’s adamant that 2085 will start back up again,” says the brewer.
Keel said that his first reaction was to fly to Ukraine and pull his friend out of the country, but that proved to be impossible. Brewing this beer and raising funds and awareness seemed like a way to give a lifeline to Drebot and everyone else left in Ukraine. “It’s about giving Naz and everyone else something positive to focus on,” says Keel.
Besides being a brewer, Keel is a career military professional who has helped to set up medical clinics in Iraq and has seen the collateral damage war wrecks on people. “I was giving medical support to local Iraqi police and civilians. I have seen what this violence creates. How it shatters peoples’ lives. The kids are the hardest part,” he confides. “Making this beer gives us hope.”
So far, about 20 breweries have started making the Resolve beer, and Keel and Cimperman hope more breweries will join in.
Breweries interested in joining the initiative can visit resolveukrainebeer.com to download the two different recipes (one is made with rare hops and one calls for more accessible ingredients).
Resolve beer is available at 42 North Brewing Company and at Wegman’s stores throughout most of New York State. In addition, it will be featured at the Tampa Blueberry Festival this weekend, hosted by Keel Farms Agrarian Ale + Cider.