Niagara-on-the-Lake college brews up support for Ukrainian relief

Niagara College Teaching Brewery Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing knows the brewing scene in Ukraine better than most.

During the early 1990s – a pivotal time after Ukraine gained independence in 1991 – he was instrumental in launching two microbreweries in Ukraine – one in Dnipro, the other in Haivoron.

To that end, he and his brewing students at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus’ Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program were quick to answer the call for breweries around the world to brew “Resist – Ukrainian Anti Imperial Stout” in early March.

The recipe for the Imperial Stout was created by displaced Ukrainian brewers with the hopes that brewers worldwide will brew it in solidarity with the beer community in Ukraine whose livelihoods and, in some cases, their businesses have been destroyed by Russian attacks.

“Having seen the country being rebuilt once, I know it’s going to be rebuilt again. I know that the strength of Ukrainian people will make it happen,” Downing said.

“Brewing is a part of it. Brewing is a part of the economy locally here in Ontario, worldwide and in Ukraine as well.”

Later in March, Downing and his students will also brew a “Ukrainian Golden Ale”, using a recipe developed from Pravda brewery in Lviv, Ukraine, which has halted beer production to make Molotov cocktails during the Russian invasion.

The Teaching Brewery’s “Resist – Ukrainian Anti Imperial Stout” should be released within days and “Ukrainian Golden Ale” is expected to be released to the beer-drinking public by mid-May.

Both will be available at the College’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre ($3.75 per can) while supplies last.