A new beer called Hello My Name is Vladimir mocks Putin’s discriminatory LGBT legislation ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Scottish craft brewery, BrewDog has launched a craft beer apparently ‘not for gays’ that carries an image of the Russian premier wearing make up on the label.
The ale is the world’s first ‘protest beer’ and aims to support LGBT communities in Russia by undermining the potential of the Winter Olympics to deflect attention from Russia’s recent law banning ‘homosexual propaganda’.
50 per cent of profits from the sale of Hello My Name is Vladimir will be donated directly to charities that represent oppressed minorities around the world.
BrewDog has also sent a case of the limited edition beer to President Putin himself.
Hello My Name is Vladimir is an 8.2% ABV double IPA containing limonnik berries, an ingredient regarded by some Russian hunters to enhance sexual performance in men.
As well as claiming the beer is ‘not for gays’, the label carries a garish Warhol-style image of Putin wearing eye shadow and lipstick and suggests the beer ‘may contain traces of sarcasm’.
The Putin-inspired double IPA is the latest in a long line of BrewDog beers making an impact during major events.
In 2012, the brewer launched Never Mind the Anabolics, a beer laced with steroids, mocking Heineken’s sponsorship of the Olympic Games in London, whilst in 2011 BrewDog’s Royal Virility Performance beer was laced with herbal Viagra to mark the Royal Wedding and ‘take the wheels off the bandwagon’ being ridden by breweries manufacturing saccharine celebratory beers.
Hello My Name is Vladimir costs £2.89 per bottle and is available in all BrewDog bars and brewdog.com
BrewDog is trying to mount global social media pressure on Putin using the dedicated hashtag #NotForGays
BrewDog co-founder James Watt, said: “We sincerely hope that when Vladimir Putin is tired from a busy day riding horses with his top off, grappling with burly men on the Judo mat or fishing in his Speedos, he reclines on a velvet chaise longue and has one of his handsome helpers wet his whistle with a glass of Hello My Name is Vladimir.”
“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. He might even invite us to ride bareback with him in the Siberian mountains.”
“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. Our core beliefs of freedom, integrity and passion drive all our actions. Since we started in 2007, we’ve always striven to strike fear at the heart of the gatekeepers and establishment, the launch of Hello My Name is Vladimir is simply a continuation of that tradition.”
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Speaking before the ceremony, Lance Corporal James Wharton, said: “I’m honoured to be awarded such an historic accolade and I accept the Freedom of the City with great humility. I was particularly encouraged to see Fiona Woolf, Lord Mayor of the City of London, launch the ‘Power of Diversity’ programme in January, which underlines the City of London Corporation’s commitment to putting the City at the forefront of equality and inclusion. I find it incredible that, in the space of 45 years, we have gone from criminalising gay people to awarding and recognising the contribution that we make to British society. However, there are still too many governments and societies across the world that are actively moving in the opposite direction with regards to gay equality, which should motivate us all, as a modern society, to continue the fight for equality.”
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