Who would’ve thought that a country as small as Malta would be home to its very own brewing subculture?

With the relatively recent popularisation of craft beer taking the islands by storm, several breweries of varying sizes have been sprouting up all over Malta and Gozo, treating beer-lovers far-and-wide to a fully Maltese version of this widely loved beverage.

With that being said, here are five breweries around the islands that are bound to keep you coming back for more.

The Brew

Serving as a bar, restaurant, and brewery, Sliema’s The Brew is what you would call a jack-of-all trades.

This beloved watering hole makes a whopping eight different craft beers – ranging from an IPA and a Pilsner to a Shandy and two types of Ales – which you can enjoy over a plate (or two) of the spot’s delicious pub grub. Should you prefer to sample The Brew’s refreshing booze at home, you can choose to buy a take-away two-litre bottle or five-litre keg of the product of your choice.

Lord Chambray

Based in the quaint village of Xewkija, Lord Chambray is ‘the first craft and independent Maltese brewery’.

This spot’s diverse portfolio of beer is easily recognisable thanks to its unique and colourful branding, setting its products apart from your run-of-the-mill counterparts. Most of Lord Chambray’s products are also named after iconic marine spots around the islands – we’re talking Grand Harbour, Fungus Rock, and Golden Bay, amongst many others.

Stretta Craft Beer

Named after the infamous Strait Street, where the founder’s father’s family happened to reside back in the day, Stretta is all about quality over quantity.

At present, this beloved brewery produces a handful of its own beers – namely the Stretta Premium Lager and the Stretta Clara Premium Shandy – whilst also contract brewing in third party breweries abroad. It’s become super easy to get your hands on Stretta beer in the past years, with countless bars, restaurants, cafes, and hotels stocking it around the islands.

Huskie Craft Beer

Launched by two scientifically inclined individuals, Jean and Miguel, Huskie Craft Beer is all about creating top-quality beverages.

This Qrendi microbrewery currently produces four different beers – an IPA, three pale ales, and a curiously delicious Pistachio Cream Ale; Jean and Miguel’s latest creation. Like Stretta, beer-lovers can get their hands on some Huskie Craft Beer in countless locations around the islands, some of which even serve it on draught!

Simonds Farsons Cisk

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It wouldn’t really make sense to talk about Maltese breweries without mentioning the biggest one – Simonds Farsons Cisk.

Though best-known for the quintessentially Maltese Cisk Lager and Cisk Excel, Farsons produce a wide range of slightly lesser-known beverages that are bound to wow local and foreign beer nerds alike. From their Green Hop IPA to the Cisk Strong Premium Lager, there really is a Farsons beverage for every occasion.

Stretta Beer / Facebook, The Brew Grill & Brewery / Facebook, The Huskie Craft Beer Company / Facebook