Words by Colin Hampden-White
Ardbeg has announced its first ever beer called “The Shortie Porter”. The name comes from the Ardbeg Jack Russel mascot: “Shortie”. All profits created in partnership with Brewgooder, a social enterprise, will go to clean water projects in Malawi.
This was all the idea of Alan McIntyre, the Global Senior Brand Manager of Ardbeg and his flatmate Alan Mahon, who is the founder of Brewgooder. The beer was originally scheduled for release on World Water Day on the 22nd of March, but because of the Coronavirus pandemic that was postponed. The beer will now be available from the 13th of August from Ardbeg.com and specialist retailers.
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!”
The beer isn’t as smoky as one might expect, and certainly not as smoky as the whiskies the distillery is so famous for creating. The smoke is incredibly well-balanced, allowing bitter chocolate, espresso coffee and a little black treacle sweetness to come through. It is a refreshing yet complex beer.
Ardbeg joined forces with Williams Bros. Brewing Co to create the beer. The Shortie Porter was made using the peated malt that makes 10 year old Ardbeg, giving the beer its smoky character.
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 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.”
The Shortie Porter will be a limited edition and only available to the UK market. Depending on how much has been made, and they haven’t told us, I suggest you will need to be quick off the mark to order some, especially if it goes as quickly as other limited releases from Ardbeg.
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."
As it was originally planned for March, and at 6.2%, I thought the beer might be at odds with the summer months, especially with the heatwave we are currently experiencing. But I found myself surprised at how versatile and fresh it is. Even though it is a dark beer, it is crisp and lively and much of this is down to the smoke bringing all the flavours together. It’s a beer for all seasons with a great charitable reason to buy it.
The Shortie Smoky Porter will be available to purchase exclusively in the UK from Ardbeg.com, and from selected retailers, from 13 August – priced at £14 for a four pack.
If you love smoky whisky, and in particular Ardbeg, look at the smokiness rankings we gave their annual releases. See which one was the winner here!