IT’S ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP, AS ARDBEG LAUNCHES A LIMITED EDITION BEER IN SUPPORT OF BREWGOODER’S GLOBAL GATHERING – Almost Scotch Whisky News
#ardbeg #untamed smoky #islay #bggg2020 #brewgooder
IT’S ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP, AS ARDBEG LAUNCHES A LIMITED EDITION BEER IN SUPPORT OF BREWGOODER’S GLOBAL GATHERING
All profits from the Scottish whisky maker’s first ever beer to be donated to charity supporting clean water projects in Malawi
ISLAY, UK – 10 March 2020 – Today, Ardbeg, the world-renowned Islay Distillery, announced the release of its first ever beer – The Shortie Smoky Porter. Named after Ardbeg’s beloved canine mascot (Shortie the Jack Russell), this limited edition will be launched in partnership with Brewgooder as part of their Global Gathering campaign.
The brain-child of flatmates Alan McIntyre, Global Brand Manager at Ardbeg, and Alan Mahon, Founder of Brewgooder, the beer has been produced in aid of World Water Day (22 March 2020) with all profits from The Shortie Smoky Porter donated to support 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 has joined forces with Williams Bros. Brewing Co. The Shortie Smoky Porter is 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.
Ardbeg is the only spirits brand alongside around 250 craft brewers from around the world, all releasing their own unique, one off-brew in aid of the Global Gathering. A coordinated release of the beers will take place over the weekend of World Water Day – March 20th – 22nd 2020.
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 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 the Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre, online at Ardbeg.com, in select stores and Ardbeg Embassies across the UK from Tuesday 24th March – priced at £14 for a four-pack.
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NOTES:
Tasting Notes
ABV: 6.2%
Colour:
Dark peat bog brown
Nose:
On the nose, Ardbeg’s distinctive peat gives rise to more oily notes intermingled with sour cherries, rich coal tar and pine. Ardbeg’s malt then begins to reveal itself, with aromas of toasted nuts and sweet lemon and lime.
Taste:
On the palate, this smoky porter boasts a typically creamy texture, with bitter dark chocolate, malty biscuit, dry espresso coffee and a hint of liquorice.
Finish:
In a finish that lingers long beyond the can, delicious and distinctively smoky notes guide the palate towards the bitter end.
Ardbeg
Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.
Brewgooder Global Gathering Campaign
The Scottish craft beer brand, Brewgooder, has attracted more than 240 brewers from around the world to its biggest campaign to date. The Global Gathering is a collaborative brewing project on a mission to provide clean water for 100,000 people in developing countries. The campaign aims to partner with hundreds of breweries in the UK and around the world to brew unique, small-batch beers. A coordinated release of the beers will take place over the weekend of World Water Day – March 20-22nd 2020. To find out more and join the movement, visit www.brewgooder.com/gathering
Ardbeg Committee
The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.
Awards
Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions. Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ twice by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible (2008, 2009) and has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013). At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’. The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100. Most recently, at the 2019 World Whisky Awards, Ardbeg Ten Years Old triumphed in the 12 Years and Under category, and Ardbeg Corryvreckan in the Non-Age Statement section. In the International Whisky Challenge 2019, Ardbeg was named Distillery of the Year and Ardbeg An Oa took home three awards, including best Islay malt. Meanwhile, Ardbeg Uigeadail was handed a rare platinum medal by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 (SFWSC) – an award reserved for a handful of spirits, deemed near the pinnacle of achievement.
The Glenmorangie Company
The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.
Responsible Drinking
Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.
