Cisk Export Premium Lager, produced by Simonds Farsons Cisk plc in Malta, has just won international recognition in the International Beers Competition (IBC). Cisk Export was submitted to the competition by Farsons' UK importers, Aristolend Limited.

The competition is organised in the UK by the OLN - Off Licence News, an off-trade weekly newspaper aimed at all key personnel working in the UK's off-trade. In its award statement, the IBC declared Cisk Export to be "a little gem of a lager with a surprisingly fruity nose".

The accolade went on: "The soft, malty body, intriguing fruitiness and subtle finish make it a delicate find with a hint of lemon throughout."

The IBC is restricted to packaged products rather than beers that are exclusively available on draught. This year almost 300 products were submitted. Both packaging and taste are judged.

In winning this international recognition, Cisk Export had to compete with some of the leading brands from Europe, America and Australia.

OLN has been the voice of the drinks business in the UK for over 130 years. Its editorial coverage includes all the latest news of importance in the drinks industry, and covers the major stories and market developments in depth.

OLN also keeps readers up to date in other market sectors, such as snacks and confectionery, and the broader retail market, including e-commerce.

This international recognition closely follows the two major international awards won by Cisk Export last year.

In the space of a week, last June, the Maltese premium lager won the gold medal in the European Style Pilsner category of the World Beer Cup 2002, held by the Association of Brewers in Ohio in the United States, and the gold award in the international section of the prestigious Australian International Beer Awards.

"As a Maltese company, we are understandably satisfied that our Cisk Export Premium Lager is being repeatedly recognised as a top quality beer by international standards," Louis Farrugia, chief executive of Farsons, said.

"In a short span of nine months, Cisk Export achieved excellent results in Australia, the United States and now in England. These achievements confirm Farsons' unwavering determination to consolidate its brewing capabilities and its on-going search for excellent quality.

"We consider this to be yet another tribute for our company, for our employees and for the Maltese who believe that good products from a small island like Malta have the possibility not only to compete but win comfortably in much bigger markets and with much bigger resources than ours."

Other awards Cisk Export won in the past include the UK's Brewex Competition in 1980 and the Australian International Beer Awards in 1995. Cisk Export has consistently been performing very well with a gold medal in the 1998 Australian International Beer Awards, among its most significant achievements.

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