The Engine Room is inviting the people of East Grinstead 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.
One of hundreds of pubs, bars, restaurants and retailers across the UK to show their support for the people of Ukraine by pre-ordering Kyiv-based Varvar Brew’s craft beer and running fundraising initiatives for www.drinkersforukraine.com, The Engine Room will be donating 20% of the sales to the Red Cross International Relief
The scheme 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 to the trade in days of the initiative being launched, is now eagerly being delivered so that fridges, shelves and even some draught lines are stocked up ahead of the 14th April.
Drinkers and retailers around the UK are being asked to share their pictures on social media at 6pm using the hashtag #DrinkersForUkraine.
John, General Dogsbody and Gopher at The Engine Room, said:
“It’s great to help such an amazing initiative and to show support and help raise money for the people of Ukraine. We’re urging people to head down on Thursday for a 4pm release, and whenever they can thereafter, to buy a beer, raise a glass and show their support 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 the full list of venues stocking Varvar Brew’s eclectic selection of crafts beers and raising money, visit https://www.euroboozer.co.uk/blog/varvarlands
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.
