Stout effort for Ukrainian people
WEEKS of hard work have paid off for Northumberland’s independent breweries as their beer created in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine launches.
It’s thought to have raised around £4,000 which will go directly to the Red Cross, assisting those who have been internally displaced and those fleeing the country. The stout, which is part of the Drinkers for Ukraine initiative, has been created according to a base recipe by Ukrainian brewers and has been christened Resist.
One of its key ingredients is beetroot, a nod to the country’s national dish Borscht, a soup often served with sour cream. And after weeks of fermenting and brewing the anti-imperial stout, drinkers can now try the beer at venues across the North East.
Sam Kellie, Director at the First and Last Brewery, one of the eight breweries involved, said: “By my rough sums, we’re going to be donating somewhere in the region of four grand which is absolutely marvellous. A strong, dark beer takes a while to condition and get it into cans but it’s ready and it’s all been pre-sold to trade outlets in Newcastle and Northumberland – there’s a premium on the price which we ummed and ahhed about but we want to maximise the donations for Ukraine.”
For some of the eight breweries involved – The First and Last Brewery in Elsdon, Allendale Brewery, Muckle Brewing in Haltwhistle, Rigg and Furrow in Acklington, Brewis Beer Company in Amble, Alnwick Brewery, Twice Brewed in Bardon Mill and High House Farm Brewery in Matfen – it was the first time they had met up since before the pandemic.
Sam said: “This has been remarkably well-timed because on the back of Covid when everyone’s been quite isolated, it’s really nice coming together for a brew day and seeing each other again and all being together in the one place.
“It’s been really nice to have a shared positive project when the last three years have been dominated more by personal survival and trying to get through. To be focusing on something that’s about giving back and working together, it’s been quite affirming.”
North East Organic Growers supplied free beetroot and Thomas Fawcett & Sons free malt.
Many of the breweries will sell Resist on their website, while it will be available at the Crown Posada and Free Trade Inn in Newcastle, Platform Bar in Hexham, the Star Inn in Harbottle and at the Tynedale Beer Festival in June.