Far from these shores, in bars spread across the world, a familiar yellow and red beer logo greets Maltese people looking for a little taste of home. There are few things which scream Malta more than a pint of Cisk. 

And whether the suds are savoured in some distant city, on a sandy beach on the island or swilled in a pub in the heart of the capital, the brew has defined the nation since it was first introduced to a thirsty public, way back in 1929. This year, it celebrates its 90th anniversary: yes, the island’s favourite child is all grown up. 

Over the next few weeks, Farsons – the group behind the well-known brand – will be toasting the unique sip through a series of events in villages dotted around the island, looking back at the brew’s origins, which was first enjoyed on 3rd April 1929 during the festa of St George in Qormi – probably why the beer enjoys such popularity at Malta’s traditional feasts.  

“Cisk is synonymous with village life and with festas,” Karl Bondin from Farsons tells us. “It’s the perfect beer to catch up with old friends and discuss current affairs at the local kazin. And it is the perfect celebration beer to be enjoyed while celebrating the patron saint of the village,” he smiles.

But Cisk, as we all know, goes well beyond the village festa. Just the name of the brew recalls the sun; firm friendships savoured over a pint; and the unmatched flavour of an abundant ftira. Not bad for suds which owe their name to a misunderstanding. “The Marquis John Scicluna – the creator of Cisk – was the son of Giuseppe Scicluna, who owned Scicluna Bank in Valletta. He was nicknamed ic-Cisk, after introducing payment by cheque. The Maltese mispronounced the word cheques into Cisk, and, hence, the marquis became known as Cisk,” Karl explains. 

And those four little letters now find themselves gracing many a local and international award, as hopheads around the globe savour the brew which remains true to its original 1929 recipe. For while the brand has diversified, with new variants including Cisk Excel, a low carbohydrate lager beer; Cisk Chill, flavoured lagers of Lemon, Berry and Ginger and Lime; Cisk Pilsner, a 5.5 per cent ABV premium pilsner; as well as Cisk Export and Cisk Strong, the beer is still principally enjoyed the way it always has been: chilled, on a warm summer’s day.  

And its popularity shows no signs of abating. “The beer, in all its varieties, is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike, and that sense of pride that the Maltese have towards the brand is a continuous acknowledgement of our brewing skills. This is a true achievement for us,” Karl continues. But what does the future hold for Malta’s best-loved swill? “There are exciting times ahead! The brand is getting recognised more internationally, and we are working towards introducing it to different countries as well,” Karl explains.

So, as Cisk makes its journey around the world, why not kick back and take a sip? There's no better way to celebrate its anniversary, after all...

For more information on Cisk’s 90th anniversary celebrations, keep up to date via their Facebook page. Limited edition packaging and gifts will also be available.