BrewDog brewery in Scotland apparently knows how to do activism that’s fun for everyone who participates. To protest Russian anti-gay laws ahead of the Sochi Olympics, they’ve created a new beer, Hello, My Name Is Vladimir, a beer specifically for macho dudes who are very concerned about being viewed as macho dudes, like Putin. The beer is NOT FOR GAYS, though:
Hello My Name is Vladimir has been made by Aberdeenshire-based BrewDog.
The company said half the profits from the sales of the beer would be donated to charities that “represent oppressed minorities around the world”.
President Vladimir Putin recently insisted he was not prejudiced against homosexuals.
He defended Russia’s controversial legislation, passed in June, prescribing fines for anyone providing information about paedophilia and homosexuality to people under 18.
[…]
BrewDog co-founder James Watt said: “As Hello My Name is Vladimir is clearly marked ‘not for gays’ we should bypass the legislation outlawing supposed ‘homosexual propaganda’.”
The company has sent a case of the beer to President Putin, who is depicted wearing make-up on the bottles.
Brilliant. The company’s website describes the target market for this new beer. Again, it is NOT FOR GAYS, so don’t even try, gays:
Hello, my name is Vladimir. I am a beer for uber hetero men who ride horses while topless and carrying knives. I am a beer to mark the 2014 Winter Olympics. But I am not for gays. Love wrestling burly men on the Judo mat or fishing in your Speedos? Then this is the beer for you!
The sick, twisted legislation brought about in Russia that prevents people from living their true lives is something we didn’t want to just sit back and not have an opinion on. Our core beliefs are freedom of expression, freedom of speech and a dogged (no pun intended) passion for doing what we love. Thus, we are donating 50% of the profits from this beer to charitable organisations that support like minded individuals wishing to express themselves freely without prejudice.
This beer is a double IPA brewed with Limonnik berries. We heard they’re great for improving sexual performance, so we’ve sent a case to the Kremlin as we suspect there is someone there who would appreciate a little helping hand.
This is some high-level trolling here, and I really want to be friends with the creative minds behind this campaign.
To learn more about BrewDog and their Hello, My Name Is Vladimir, or to buy some (if you’re in the UK), check out their website.
It’s also worth noting that this news comes out as the Scottish Parliament is in their third and final reading of a bill to bring marriage equality to their country. England and Wales have passed marriage equality, but Northern Ireland lags behind. Watch a live feed of the proceedings HERE.
