Almost five months after its initial launch date, Ardbeg is finally releasing their first-ever beer, The Shortie Smoky Porter. All profits from sales of the limited edition brew, which will become available August 13, will go to support clean water projects in Malawi in partnership with craft beer social enterprise Brewgooder.
Named after Ardbeg’s beloved canine mascot (Shortie the Jack Russell), The Shortie Smoky Porter was originally scheduled for release to support World Water Day (March 22, 2020). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the development and launch were postponed. Now the beer will be available for purchase from Ardbeg’s official website as well as select retailers across the United Kingdom.
Ardbeg joined forces with Williams Bros. Brewing Co. to produce the one-off beer. Made using the same peated malt as the award-winning Ardbeg Ten Years Old Whisky, The Shortie Smoky Porter captures 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, said, “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 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 to 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.”