10 Best Breweries in Daylesford

"Founded in 2005 by Scott and Vanessa Wilson-Browne in Purrumbete, before they relocated to Ballarat in 2011, Red Duck are one of the longest-established breweries in Australia and have been championing craft beer in the region, while also aiming to give drinkers as much variety as possible. Indeed, long before today's era of rapid-fire new releases and wanton experimentation across the country, Red Duck were already at it, playing with barrels, souring techniques, fruit, herbs and more besides. Since launching, they've released more than 170 different beers (likely higher by the time you read this!), often unlike anything you'll have encountered before."

"Located in Ballarat, Red Duck Micro-Brewery have a proud tradition of being at the forefront of real craft beer innovation and explore history of forgotten styles and tastes. Continually exploring the garden for new and traditional ingredients to add, Red Duck invent new brewing techniques or re-invent long forgotten ones."

"Located in the centre of Ballarat, the Athletic Club Brewery is the region’s leading brewpub experience. With tours, tastings, there is always something worth experiencing at the Athletic Club Brewery. Boasting an eclectic range of craft beers made on site, and brew matched food supplied by the adjoining Freight restaurant, you can take in all the atmosphere that the brewery has to offer from the comfort of the tap room, or even enjoy dinner and a beer from the brewery floor."

"When Peter Parry decided to retire in 2015, he found the days long and somewhat boring, so he made the decision to invest his retirement money in a brewery. Having made the decision, he didn’t mess around. He kitted the place out with new equipment from Australian brewery manufacturer Spark, including a 15hL brewhouse, two double batch and two single batch fermenters, a 50L pilot kit, a couple of kegarators for on the run requirements and a 12 tap setup in the bar area."

"If you're after beers of the sour, funky and wild variety in Ballarat, set a course for Invermay’s Dollar Bill Brewing. The brainchild of husband and wife duo Ed and Fiona Nolle, compromise has never been something they considered when they set out to take the sort of barrel-aged blends Ed and his winemaking buddy "Miguel Sanchez" had been playing with as homebrewers for close to two decades. With wort brewed at Stomping Ground in Collingwood before being transferred to barrels in a shed on their land, the Nolles take pleasure in creating unique flavours through a variety of wild fermentation and blending techniques."

"On the back of many years of hard-working beer research, they developed a method for brewing great beers, true to flavour without compromise. Made using millet and sorghum, malted to our exacting specification. CiderBarrel Fermented Cider, produced from a blend of locally crushed Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples and Packham Pears."

"In store at the oldest regional art museum in the country is a complete survey of Australian fine art. Every period is accounted for, from colonial to contemporary: Starting in the late 19th century, there are works by Jane Sutherland, Louis Buvelot, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Rupert Bunny and Walter Withers. And just some of the major 20th-century artists represented at the Art Gallery of Ballarat are Sidney Nolan, Fred Williams, Arthur Boyd and William Dobel."

"As a part of the University of Ballarat Arts Academy, the Post Office Gallery is an educational resource that showcases artwork from the students and staff of FedUni’s Arts Academy, as well as local and emerging Australian artists. Dating back to 1909, the collection includes paintings, graphics, contemporary prints, ceramics and sculptures. These recommendations were updated on September 16, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh."

"It is located in the cultural district of Ballarat, and gives off a unique vibe. If you want to learn more about the art and culture of Ballarat, just head over to the Post Office Gallery as it is filled with some of the finest pieces that are hung up on its walls. There are also a lot of exhibitions that are always going on in the gallery."

"A place to find the odd, the amusing and the interesting,” The Lost Ones is a contemporary art gallery which prides itself on salvaging lost arts and crafts and championing forgotten voices. Located in a Masonic temple, which dates back to the early 1870s, The Lost Ones is a place for exhibitions, performances, art classes and workshops that hope to pass on endangered art skills and techniques, such as lace making, making dyes from plants, bookbinding and more."

"Hidden under an art gallery in an old Masonic Temple, the Lost Ones Basement Bar is hard to find, and equally hard to leave. Here, classic elegance meets mysterious, eclectic charm...if you can find it!. The bar has an extensive wine, beer, spirits and cocktail menu, as well as light meals."