Ukrainian-inspired craft beer marks twinning between Swindon and Ukrainian town

A few weeks before Ukrainian Independence Day, Swindon is preparing to raise a glass not simply to a new craft beer, but to one of Britain's most remarkable community stories.

Swindon is set to celebrate its growing friendship with the Ukrainian city of Rivne through the launch of a limited-edition craft beer inspired by a Ukrainian brewing recipe.
Named 'SYLA, the Ukrainian word for strength, the Ukrainian Pale Ale has been brewed by Drink Valley Brewery in Swindon’s Old Town using a recipe inspired by Rivne Brewery in western Ukraine.
The beer will be officially launched on Friday 31 July from 6.30pm until 8.30pm at the Drink Valley pub in Swindon, with proceeds supporting Swindon Welcomes Ukraine community projects and charities delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Dhiraj Pujari, Brewmaster at Drink Valley Brewery, said: "When the team approached us with the idea, we immediately felt it was something we wanted to be part of.
"Working from a recipe inspired by Rivne Brewery gave us the opportunity to create something that honours Ukrainian brewing traditions while crafting it here in Swindon.
"We're incredibly proud that Drink Valley Brewery can play a small part in celebrating the friendship between Swindon and Rivne, and we hope everyone who enjoys SYLA understands that it's much more than a beer, it's a symbol of strength, resilience and community."
Anastasiia Banatska, Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, said: "For me, this project is deeply personal because Rivne is my home.
"Seeing the city where I grew up connected with the town that has welcomed my family and so many other Ukrainians means more than I can put into words.
"When the war began, people in Swindon opened not only their homes but also their hearts. Thanks to host families and hundreds of volunteers, we have been able to build a thriving Ukrainian community here.
"I can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate the friendship between Swindon and Rivne.”
The launch comes ahead of Swindon and Rivne formally becoming twin towns and marks another milestone in the relationship that has developed between the two communities since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
More than 150 households across Swindon opened their homes to Ukrainian families through the Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme after the outbreak of war.
From those first arrivals, volunteer-led organisation Swindon Welcomes Ukraine has grown into a thriving community supporting more than 500 Ukrainians living across the borough, in partnership with the local authority's Warm Welcome team.
Many families who initially expected to remain in the UK for only a short time have since settled in Swindon.
Children now attend local schools, adults have established careers and businesses, and lasting friendships have formed across the community.
After a group of Ukrainian women in Swindon wanted to build a more lasting link to Ukraine, a relationship between similar towns, Swindon and Rivne has been established after a recent visit from Mayor of Rivne Viktor Shakyrzian.
The relationship will be further celebrated at UkraineFest on 22nd August, the annual Swindon celebration of Ukrainian culture, which attracts more than 4000 visitors from across the South West and London.
Rather than importing a Ukrainian beer, Drink Valley Brewery worked from a recipe inspired by Rivne Brewery to produce a beer brewed in Swindon that reflects the collaboration between the two communities, and includes 20kg of Ukrainian honey.
Organisers believe SYLA is one of the first beers created specifically to celebrate a partnership between a British town and a Ukrainian city.
Cllr Jake Chandler, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “This beer is the latest example of the Ukrainian community's contribution to Swindon, and builds on the collaboration work between Swindon Borough Council and the city of Rivne.  
"We are proud of this emerging partnership and the incorporation of an authentic Rivne recipe and ingredients is inspired. Personally, I cannot wait to try it!"
Guests attending the launch will have the opportunity to be among the first to sample the beer, meet those behind the collaboration and celebrate another milestone in the growing friendship between Swindon and Rivne.
Our pictures were taken during the recent visit by the Mayor of Rivne visit to Swindon as the beer’s production began.