On 7 August Ardbeg announced that it would be releasing its first ever beer – The Shortie Smoky Porter – which will soon be available to fans in the UK.
Named after Ardbeg’s beloved canine mascot (Shortie the Jack Russell), all profits from this limited edition beer will go to support clean water projects in partnership with craft beer social enterprise Brewgooder.
The Shortie Smoky Porter is the brain-child of flatmates Alan McIntyre, global senior brand manager at Ardbeg, and Alan Mahon, Founder of Brewgooder.
Originally scheduled for release to support World Water Day on the 22 March 2020, the development and launch was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The beer will now be available from 13 August on Ardbeg's websitw and selected retailers, with all profits to be donated to clean water projects in Malawi.
To produce this one-off beer – which will be available exclusively in the UK for a limited time only – Ardbeg joined forces with Williams Bros. Brewing Co.
The Shortie Smoky Porter was made using the same peated malt as the award-winning Ardbeg Ten Years Old whisky, capturing the Distillery’s signature smoky character with notes of bitter dark chocolate, malty biscuit, dry espresso coffee and a hint of liquorice.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg director of distilling, whisky creation & whisky stocks commented: “We all dig Ardbeg, and no more so than Shortie.
"So for this life-saving, well-digging clean water brew, it was only fitting that our canine mascot should represent Islay.
"As with most porters, this beer is smooth and creamy. However our malt has helped make it distinctly smoky – the way we imagine an Ardbeg beer is meant to taste.”
Mickey Heads, Ardbeg Distillery Manager, added: “Not only is this a hugely important cause – that we’re delighted to be a part of – but The Shortie Smoky Porter is of course a first for the Distillery.
"Helping brew a beer may seem like unchartered territory for Ardbeg, but as any whiskyphile worth their malt will tell you, beer and whisky share the same DNA.
"Just like brewers, we ferment our malt. The only difference being, we hold on to the hops. We hope that Ardbeggians and craft beer lovers alike will enjoy this extra special limited edition.”
Alan Mahon, founder of Brewgooder, commented: "This collaboration is particularly special for me.
"To create an incredible beer that helps empower people's lives is one thing, to do it with one of the world's best whisky brands is another, but to bring it to life with my best friend: there are few things I have been prouder of in my life.
"I look forward to working with the team at Ardbeg to turn the profits from this beer into life-saving clean water wells for those who need them."
The Shortie Smoky Porter will be available to purchase exclusively in the UK from Ardbeg's website, and from selected retailers, from 13 August – priced at £14 for a four-pack.
Scran season 2: The healthier beer revolution - and Nick Nairn's tips for cooking steak
