'Putin Huylo' Beer Unveiled By Hillsborough Brewery, Sales Support Ukraine

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Ukrainian descendants and owners of Hillsborough's Flounder Brewery, Jeremy and Dan Lees, are not hiding their feelings about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Putin is a D*ckhead." That is the Russian and Ukrainian translation behind their newest brew "Putin Huylo," Jeremy Lees said to Patch.

The new beer, which was brewed in solidarity with Театр пива «Правда» / Pravda Beer Theatre in Lviv, Ukraine, will be unveiled with a limited supply on April 29 during their special Ukrainian fundraiser.

"No one can ignore the images from Bucha, Ukraine we all are seeing today of the crimes Putin has committed and now with more than 4,000,000 having left their homeland help is needed more than ever!" according to Flounder Brewing.

Lees said the brew was inspired after the Ukrainian Brewery, Pravda, went viral after sharing a photo on its Instagram of them switching from making beer to creating Molotov cocktails.

Pravda spearheaded a worldwide effort by releasing a beer recipe with the name "Putin Huylo" to raise money for humanitarian relief. Lees said they used that recipe to collaborate with breweries worldwide and help in any way they can.

Flounder's Putin Huylo beer is an American Golden Ale that is 8.2 percent proof.

"It is an Amber Ale that is a little bit hoppy," said Lees.

Lees brewed three barrels for the batch, which is equivalent to six kegs.

"It will only be available on tap here," said Lees. "We will not have it canned. It will not be for distribution."

To get a taste of the limited edition brew, the fundraiser will be held from 2 to 10 p.m. with music from 6 to 9 p.m. at the brewery, 2 Clerico Lane, Hillsborough. All proceeds from the beer sales will be going toward Ukrainian relief efforts.

At the event, Ukrainian music will be performed by Soloway Band, who is coming from Philly.

"It will be nice to share Ukrainian music and Ukrainian culture while also helping Ukraine," said Lees.

Carriage Farm will also have Cas' Pierogi & Kielbasa Food Truck at the farm during the event.

Buckets will also be set up at the brewery to collect cash donations.

"We hope to fill the buckets," said Lees. "We are seeing stuff over there that is so impactful. They need anything they can."

Flounder Brewing's Hill St. Honey Blonde Ale

Along with the Putin Huylo beer, Flounder also has their Hill St. Honey Blonde Ale available for purchase with 100 percent of the proceeds from sales going toward Ukrainian relief.

Hill Street was inspired from their grandfather, who was a beekeeper.

Jeremy and Dan Lees were both raised with the Ukrainian culture and attended a yearly Ukrainian festival where their grandfather enjoyed some vodka and their grandmother made thousands of pierogies.

"The grandparents fled Ukraine in the 1940's after living through the atrocities under Stalin, then later the Nazi's. Their Mom was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany and it was a few years before the long history of the family's Ukraine immigration to the United States happened and the family could finally restart their lives. It is horrible to see the same thing happen yet again to Ukraine by yet another dictator regime," according to Flounder Brewing.

For more information on Flounder Brewing or the Ukrainian Fundraising Event visit facebook.com/flounderbrewing or flounderbrewng.com.

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