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Intuition Ale Works brews up a new beer for Ukraine

Intuition Ale Works owner Ben Davis hangs a handmade Ukrainian flag outside the brewery earlier this week.
Intuition Ale Works owner Ben Davis hangs a handmade Ukrainian flag outside the brewery earlier this week.

Intuition Ale Worksannounced Wednesday that it will release “Hey Putin, Go F*** Yourself!” or HPGFY, a Belgian-style Tripel, to raise money for humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

This special release, which will be available exclusively in the brewery’s downtown Jacksonville taproom beginning in early April, is part of an international “Brew For Ukraine” project that was recently launched by the Pravda Breweryin Lviv.

Not long after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Pravda transitioned from brewing beer to making Molotov Cocktails. Its owner, Yuri Zastavny, posted on Instagram that “Pravda Brewery team is hand-bottling,” along with a photo of homemade firebombs, and added, “We’ll bottle beer later.”

Zastavny then reached out to the international brewing community for support. And 24 hours later, a worldwide effort called "Brew For Ukraine" was born.

Zastavny shared several of Pravda’s beer recipes and asked breweries around the world to brew those beers and donate proceeds to local relief efforts.

Intuition signed on, not only to raise money, but also to show solidarity with Pravda.

“To see Yuri, a fellow craft brewer, speak out publicly at great risk to himself demonstrates the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people,” Intuition’s owner and founder, Ben Davis, said in a news release. “Joining the Brew For Ukraine movement is a small but very symbolic way that we can stand with them.”

Proceeds from the beer, which is a take on “Sylva,” Pravda’s Belgian-style Tripel, will be donated to nonprofits that provide immediate aid and recovery, including food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support and cash assistance to those affected by this conflict.

HPGFY is an 8.5% ABV Belgian-style Tripel brewed with coriander and black pepper, formulated from a recipe supplied by Pravda. Belgian Tripels are strong pale ales known for their bready malts, herbaceous and floral hops, and complex notes of fruit and spice.

As far as how Intuition came up with the beer’s name, Chief Operating Officer Brad Lange explained: “The title is provocative, especially by Intuition’s normal standards. But we wanted to capture the anger and frustration that a lot of people have about this unprovoked invasion.”

Once it’s released, HPGFY will be available on tap and in four-packs of 12-ounce cans.

In the meantime, for additional information or to donate to the cause, visit www.brewforukraine.beer.

Heather is the senior producer of WJCT 89.9 FM talk shows including First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, the Florida Roundup and What's Health Got to Do with It?