‘One for the country Robert’: New beer named after Bob Hawke
After serving Australia for eight refreshing years, it seems only right that former prime minister Bob Hawke is now serving Australians with a new brew of ice-cold frothies.
The 87-year-old beer-loving Aussie has officially become the face of Hawke’s Lager after two mates were searching for an appealing brand name.
Hawke then won over a whole new generation of young Australians after a viral video captured the man demolishing a beer at the cricket in 2012.
"One for the country, Robert," an Australian man said off camera as he handed Hawke a beer.
The octogenarian licked his lips and downed the beer in seconds.
Nathan Lennon and David Gibson were working as creative directors in a New York ad agency when they sought out the man who once skolled a full yard glass of beer in 11 seconds.
“They were advertising with a friend of mine … and they were in New York thinking about beer and who they would like to have a beer with and decided they would like to have a beer with me,” Mr Hawke told News Corp.
Mr Lennon said it wasn’t just Mr Hawke’s love of beer but also his values that made him such a perfect brand.
“It was Australia Day yet we were stuck in an office and it was minus 5C outside. Beers in the sun with our mates were 16,000km away,” Mr Lennon said.
“Dave and I were chatting about who, given the chance, we’d most like to have a beer with.
“We both said Bob Hawke."
The mates said the beer brand was not only inspired by the fact that "Bob loves beer", but brought in elements of the great man's values as an Australian such as "giving back to the community and looking after your mates".
Australia’s longest serving Labor prime minister agreed to lend his name and face to the young lads on the condition his cut went to a worthwhile cause - Landcare
“I’m not making anything out of this, all of my share is going to (environmental movement) Landcare.
“I set up Landcare when I was Prime Minister and it was great work and I thought it was an appropriate repository for my share of the profits."
Hawke’s Lager will be available on tap at 11 pubs (Hawke’s First XI) in Sydney and Newcastle from Thursday, while cans are due to hit the market on Anzac Day.
