Varvar Brew
Varvar Brew is an independent craft brewery from Kyiv, founded in 2015 by a team originally from eastern Ukraine. From the very beginning, our idea was simple: to brew beer that could stand confidently alongside the best of the international craft scene, while still speaking in a distinctly Ukrainian voice.
What started with a 500-litre brewhouse grew into one of Ukraine’s early craft pioneers. Over the years, we have released more than 300 beers, developed projects ranging from easy-drinking modern styles to barrel-aged releases and beers fermented with wild yeast, and built a reputation for creativity, quality, and character.
Our brewing philosophy combines global beer culture with local identity. We work with both classic and unexpected ingredients — fruits, berries, herbs, wild yeast, and local products such as tomato, beetroot, birch sap, and more — always looking for ways to create beers that feel original, expressive, and rooted in place. We have proudly represented Ukraine at festivals, in collaborations, and on international stages, showing that Ukrainian craft beer belongs in the global conversation.
Like many Ukrainian businesses, our story has been shaped by war. The first turning point came in 2014, when the first wave of Russian aggression forced several members of our team to leave Donetsk region and rebuild both life and business in Kyiv. Then, in February 2022, the full-scale invasion brought a new wave of disruption and danger. We had to pause operations for a time during the most acute phase of the invasion, while our team worked under extraordinary conditions simply to preserve the brewery and everything we had built.
Since then, operating in Ukraine has meant constant adaptation: unstable logistics, rising ingredient costs, power and water disruptions, emotional strain, and the painful loss of colleagues who went to defend the country and did not return. These realities have changed the way we work, but not the reason we do it. We have become more flexible, more resilient, and even more determined to keep brewing.
