BrewDog Launches 'Protest' Beer Against Putin

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Scottish brewery Brewdog has today launched their new protest beer ‘Hello My Name is Vladimir’, ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

 

The craft beer features a satirical image of Russian president Vladimir Putin, with the slogan, “not for gays”. Brewdog says the new product’s aim is to support the LGBT community in Russia ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics which start on February 7.

On the back of the beer bottle is a statement saying, “Hello, my name is Vladimir. I am a beer for uber hetero men who ride horses while topless and carrying knives. I am a beer to mark the 2014 Winter Olympics. But I am not for gays. Love wrestling burly men on the Judo mat or fishing in your Speedos? Then this is the beer for you!”

vlad_for_blog_620The bottle is also labelled with the warning, “may contain sarcasm.”

Co-founder of Brewdog, 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.

“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.”

The brewery says 50% of profits from the sale of the beer will be donated directly to charities that represent oppressed minorities worldwide.

To increase pressure on Russia, the Brewery is urging social media users to use the dedicated hashtag #NotForGays, while they have also sent a case of the limited edition beer to President Putin himself.

 

© 2014 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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