Like many, Rémy Zurita watched with horror as early snippets of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine played out on the news. And like many, he felt moved to do something to assist Ukrainians in their fight to preserve their homeland, people and way of life. He knew he could mobilize efforts at his Kearny Mesa business, Hopnonymous Brewing, but knowing well the camaraderie and strength in numbers that exist within the local beer community and having witnessed countless successful charity efforts initiated by its members, he knew he could do more by banding together with his contemporaries. His first step in bringing his friends and neighbors together was to get in touch with a nearby frequent do-gooder, Kilowatt Brewing’s Steve Kozyk.
Zurita crossed the parking lot separating his and Kozyk’s breweries to present his colleague with the idea of bringing all of Kearny Mesa’s breweries together to produce a collaboration beer as part of Brew for Ukraine. That program was organized by Lviv, Ukraine’s Pravda Brewery, which made several of its beer recipes publicly accessible so breweries around the world could produce them in order to raise funds for the National Bank of Ukraine’s fundraising account for humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians affected by Russia’s aggression.
“Rémy’s original vision was to unite all the breweries in our neighborhood to brew in support of Ukraine, just as the neighboring countries of Europe and the world have come together to assist in Ukraine’s defense,” says Kozyk. “We decided to brew Pravda’s ‘Vid Syanu Do Donu’ Ukrainian imperial stout. We were able to source all of the same hops, most of the same malt with minimal substitutions, and build a similar water profile, so we hope to produce a version of the beer that’s very close to what is brewed in Ukraine.”
The ’we’ in this case consists of Kilowatt Brewing, which hosted the brew day, as well as Hopnonymous Brewing, Ataraxia Aleworks and Quantum Brewing. While not every brewery in Kearny Mesa is involved, this contingent makes up roughly two-thirds of the neighborhood’s beermaking operations. The quartet of participating breweries have (or will have) the beer on tap at their tasting rooms.
When asked why he started his outreach with Kilowatt, Zurita notes his collaborator’s heritage. Kozyk’s Ukrainian ancestors immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s to escape Soviet aggression. He still has family living in Ukraine and, while he is pained to see history repeating itself, he appreciates having an opportunity to be able to make some sort of positive difference from half a world away. His and Zurita’s customers feel the same.
“We have numerous Ukrainian patrons and friends,” says Zurita. “Since the start of the invasion, we’ve been able to see how they have been feeling as they react to what is happening. People are angry, uncomprehending, frustrated, afraid and sad.”
All four breweries will donate 100% of proceeds from the sale of the stout. Kozyk points out that, in addition to the Kearny Mesa neighbors’ Brew for Ukraine effort, individuals interested in donating to the National Bank of Ukraine’s humanitarian fund—or a fund to support the Ukrainian armed forces—can do so online at any time.
“It’s going to take everyone continuing to work together to help save Ukraine,” says Kozyk. “This collab is our grassroots way of doing our part.”