Maltese Cisk

I took a few extra days off last week and made myself a 'long weekend' in which I visited the beautiful Island of Malta. The island is dripping with history and culture, which was surprising for somewhere that is 35 Kilometers in diameter. What was even more surprising for me was the quality of the local birra there.

Above is my first of what was to be many Cisk birra. Cisk is a local lager of stupendous quality. In Australia, where I spent my formative years, most beers are of the lager variety and to be honest, are really lacking in quality. Therefore my opinion of lagers was shaped with a certain lack of respect for the cold-gold beers. So I was dumbfounded to find a mass produced lager that really hit a specific note with me.

Cisk is your typical gold, served extra-cold, bottom-fermented lager. But the flavour does not border on boring, but more towards brilliance. It has the depth and malty flavours of most lagers, but rounds in a slight fruity taste which certainly compliments the Maltese environment (which I might add averages 30 degrees during July). You can drink this in the morning (I did), afternoon or evening and it goes down easier than any lager I've ever had.

Having said all of that, this birra is without question a 5 stein winner. In fact this is my first non-weizen birra to be awarded the top award.

If you ever get the chance to have this surprising birra, grab a case or two, you wont regret it.
Ohh and I'll have more photos of this birra in different locations over the coming days.