Birkirkara: The Farsons Brewery Entry Ticket and Beer Flight

Malta’s best-known beer has a home, and this one-hour visit lets you see it without being hurried through by a guide. You’ll follow the story of Farsons, explore the old brewing hall, and finish with five beer samples at The Cisk Tap, a rooftop bar with broad views across Malta.

I like the freedom to move at your own pace, and I like that the tasting is more than a token sip. The bartender explains each beer, and you can choose five tasters or one pint. The main drawback is that this is a self-guided experience, so anyone wanting a lively guide leading a group will need to adjust expectations.

Key points to know before you go

• A self-guided brewery visit: Use the audio guide or read the displays as you move through the Brewhouse.
• Five beers at The Cisk Tap: Sample a range of beers, or exchange the tasting for one pint.
• A rooftop finish: The fifth-floor bar gives you a pleasant place to sit with wide views over Malta.
• A story of three families: The exhibits explain how three entrepreneurial families joined forces to build Malta’s leading brewing company.
• More than a tour stop: The Brewhouse also includes a Farsons Brandstore and several places to eat.
• Easy planning: The experience runs daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with last entry at 5:15 PM.

Starting at The Brewhouse in Birkirkara

You begin by checking in with staff at The Brewhouse in Birkirkara. This is both the brewery experience and a wider food, drink, and shopping destination, so you can make a longer visit of it if you wish.

The activity itself takes about an hour, though the building gives you reasons to stay longer. After the brewery section, you can spend time at the rooftop bar, browse the brand store, or eat at one of the eateries inside The Brewhouse. Food is not included, so treat those as optional add-ons rather than part of the ticket.

The brewery is open Monday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The last entry is at 5:15 PM, which matters if you are fitting this around a busy day in Malta. I would not arrive at the last minute, since you want enough time to see the displays before heading upstairs for the tasting.

Transportation is not included. You will need to make your own way to Birkirkara, and parking is available in a multi-storey car park on the site. That parking option can make the visit simpler if you are driving, although the activity does not arrange transfers.

Following Farsons through its brewing story

The first part takes you through the story behind Farsons and the Cisk brand. The focus is not only on finished bottles and company logos. You also learn how three entrepreneurial families joined forces and became the Islands’ leading brewers.

That family-business angle gives the tour more substance than a basic product display. Beer is tied closely to local business, daily life, and Malta’s modern identity, and the exhibits use the brewery to tell that story. If you already know Cisk from menus and supermarket shelves, this is the part that explains how the name became so familiar.

You can explore without waiting for a group. The audio guide is available in Maltese, English, German, Italian, and Polish. Staff and greeters can also assist in English, Maltese, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Polish.

The audio format works well for different kinds of visitors. You can listen carefully to the full explanation, pause to look at a display, or move on when a subject does not interest you. If you prefer reading, the information boards and exhibits are laid out clearly enough to follow without the audio guide.

That freedom is useful in a brewery. One person in your group may want the technical details, while another may care more about the brand story and old equipment. A self-guided route lets you split your attention without holding up anyone else.

The trade-off is clear. There is no live guide shaping the visit around your questions, adding personal stories, or keeping the pace lively. You get a clear and detailed audio presentation, but the experience depends on how much attention you choose to give it.

The historical brewing hall

The old brewing hall is the heart of the visit. Here, you see where beer was brewed and gain a better sense of the work behind the familiar cans and bottles.

The setting helps connect the business story to the physical process. Displays explain how brewing was carried out, and the hall gives the experience a genuine industrial character. It is not simply a branded tasting room dressed up as a museum.

I especially like this part for anyone who has wondered what happens before beer reaches a bar. The exhibits show the brewery as a place of production, not just a backdrop for advertising. You can take your time with the displays and stop for photographs where permitted.

The visit remains approachable for people who are not beer specialists. You do not need to know brewing terms before you arrive. The audio guide provides context, while the exhibits give you something concrete to look at as you listen.

Families should note the age rules. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and beer is not served to anyone below the age of 17. A younger child can still take part in the brewery section with an adult, but the tasting is limited by age.

Taking the lift to The Cisk Tap

After the brewery route, head to The Cisk Tap on the fifth floor. This is the first Cisk-themed bar, and its rooftop terrace shifts the mood from museum-style exhibits to a relaxed drink with a view.

The terrace is one of the strongest parts of the experience. You get sweeping views across Malta while sampling the beers, and the open setting gives you a pleasant place to linger after the audio guide ends. It is worth keeping your schedule loose here rather than treating the tasting as a quick final stop.

The tasting includes five beers. You can take them as a flight, which is the better choice if you want to compare the range, or choose one pint instead. The five tasters together are equivalent to a pint, according to the tasting arrangement.

This choice makes the ticket more useful for different drinkers. If you enjoy comparing styles, take the five small pours. If you already know you want a full glass of one beer, choose the pint. The bar staff explain the drinks, so you do not have to guess what you are sampling.

The tasting service is a strong personal touch. The bartender explains each beer as it is poured, giving the samples more purpose than five anonymous glasses lined up on a tray. Andrea has been specifically praised for making the tasting informative and friendly, so the bar service may become one of the most memorable parts of your visit.

If you enjoy the setting, you can stay for more drinks after the included tasting. Additional pints are not part of the ticket, but the rooftop bar is designed for sitting and enjoying the view rather than rushing straight out.

What you can eat and shop for afterward

The ticket includes the brewery entry and five-beer tasting, but not food. That is worth remembering when comparing the $17 price with other activities. You are paying for the brewery experience and tasting, while lunch or snacks are separate.

The Brewhouse has several eateries, including Kettles. You can make the brewery visit part of a longer meal stop, which is convenient if you want to avoid adding another location to your day. The food selection and prices are not specified here, so check the current options when you arrive.

There is also a Farsons Brandstore. It gives you a chance to browse souvenirs after the tour instead of carrying purchases through the exhibits. For fans of Cisk and Malta’s brewing brands, this is a useful extra, though shopping is entirely optional.

A microbrewery bar on level three has also been singled out as a worthwhile extra stop. It serves four beers brewed there, separate from the five samples at The Cisk Tap. These drinks are not included in the stated ticket, so check the cost before ordering, but the setup gives beer fans another reason to extend the visit.

Is the $17 ticket good value?

At $17 per person, the value depends on what you want from the afternoon. If you only want a single drink, the price will feel high. If you want a brewery story, access to the old brewing hall, an audio guide, five samples, and a rooftop setting, the ticket is reasonably positioned.

The five-beer option strengthens the value. You are not limited to a small taste of one product, and the bartender’s explanation helps you understand what is in the glass. Choosing one pint instead gives you flexibility, but I would take the flight unless you already have a clear favorite.

The visit also works well as a low-pressure activity. It lasts about an hour, does not require you to keep up with a group, and ends at a place where you can sit longer. That makes it useful on a day when you want something structured without committing to a half-day excursion.

The price does not cover transport or food, so budget for those separately. Still, the ability to combine the brewery, rooftop drinks, shopping, and a meal in one building can make the overall outing efficient.

Who will enjoy this brewery experience most?

I would recommend it first to beer drinkers who want local context with their tasting. You get to see how Malta’s best-known beer brands developed, then try several beers in the place where the story began.

It also suits couples and small groups who prefer a relaxed pace. You can listen, read, take photos, and pause for a drink without being pushed along by a guide. The rooftop finish gives the visit a social side that the museum displays alone would not provide.

Families can consider it too, provided an adult accompanies children under 12. Keep in mind that anyone under 17 will not be served beer, so the tasting is an adult feature rather than a full-family activity.

I would be less likely to recommend it to someone who wants a highly interactive brewery tour with a guide present from start to finish. The audio guide is clear and detailed, but it cannot respond to questions or add live commentary.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, which makes it practical for more people than many older brewery buildings. Pets are not allowed.

Practical timing and booking advice

Allow at least one hour for the official experience, then add time for the rooftop. If you want food, shopping, or the level-three microbrewery, plan for a longer stop.

The opening hours give you plenty of choice, since the experience runs every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Avoid arriving after 5:15 PM, when last entry closes. A late-morning or early-afternoon visit gives you the best chance of enjoying the tasting without watching the clock.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Availability and starting times should still be checked before booking.

Bring your interest in beer, but not the expectation of a live brewery demonstration. The value lies in the combination of history, displays, self-guided freedom, five samples, and the rooftop view.

Should you book Farsons Brewery?

I would book this if you want a compact Malta experience built around a local brand, especially if a rooftop drink and beer comparison sound better than a formal guided tour.

The best plan is simple: use the audio guide for the brewery story, take the five samples rather than one pint, ask the bartender about each beer, and leave time to sit on the terrace. Add food or the brand store if you want to turn the one-hour visit into a longer stop.

Skip it if you dislike self-guided tours or do not drink beer. For everyone else, the $17 ticket gives you a clear look at Malta’s brewing story and a pleasant place to finish it.

FAQ

Where does the Farsons Brewery experience start?

You check in with staff at The Brewhouse in Birkirkara, Malta.

How long does the brewery experience last?

The stated duration is one hour. You can stay longer afterward for the rooftop bar, food, or shopping.

What time is the Farsons Brewery open?

The experience is open Monday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Last entry is at 5:15 PM.

Is the tour guided?

It is a self-guided, self-exploratory experience. Audio guides are available, but there is no live guide leading the full tour.

Which audio guide languages are available?

Audio guides are available in Maltese, English, German, Italian, and Polish.

What is included with the ticket?

The ticket includes entrance to the brewery experience, the self-guided tour, and sampling of five beers from the rooftop bar.

Can I choose one pint instead of five samples?

Yes. At The Cisk Tap, you can choose five tasters or one pint of Cisk.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, though several eateries are located within The Brewhouse.

Are children allowed?

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Beer is not served to anyone under 17.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the Farsons Brewery experience is wheelchair accessible. Pets are not allowed.

Is transportation provided?

No. Transportation is not included. A multi-storey car park is available on the site.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.