NEWS: The World’s First Protest Beer Against Anti-Gay Russia

<p>In a rather cool move BrewDog have unveiled the world's first protest beer, by satirising Russia's Anti-Gay Law.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 4th Feb 2014</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4605326910.jpg" width="158" height="380" alt="" title=""/></p> <p></p><p>* Beer carries a picture of the Russian premier</p><p>* 50% of the profits will be donated directly to charities that represent the opressed around the world.</p><p>* BrewDog has sent the president a case of the limited edition beer</p><p></p><p>The Scottish Craft Brewery, BrewDog has launched their new beer Hello My Name Is Vladimir - designed as a beer 'not for gays' which carries a picture of the Russian president on the front.</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4605326909.jpg" width="460" height="307" alt="Putin's Package" title="Putin's Package"/></p> <p></p><p>The beer is the world's first 'protest beer' - which aims to support the LGBT community by 'undermining the potential of the Winter Olympics to deflect attention from <a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/RUSSIA-Passes-Anti-Gay-Bill-To-Outlaw-%E2%80%98Promoting%E2%80%99-Homosexuality-436---0/5890111">Russia’s recent law banning ‘homosexual propaganda’.'</a></p><p></p><p>James Watt, BrewDog co-founder commented:</p><p></p><p>“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.”</p><p></p><p>“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.”</p><p></p><p>“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.”</p><p></p><p>BrewDog is trying to mount a global social media pressure on Putin whilst the Sochi Winter Olympics are on, using the hastag #NotForGays</p><p></p><p>The beer will be available for £2.89 a bottle in all BrewDog bars and brewdog.com from 9:30AM today.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p>