10 Best Breweries and Beer Places 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."

"Moon and Mountain is an uber-modern Asian restaurant and bar, serving fine dining quality contemporary Asian food with an Australian twist. Inspired largely by the ‘hawker cuisine’ of Malaysia, the owners have cultivated a vibrant and exciting atmosphere, and provide a high quality drinks list to compliment the food."

"Moon & Mountain is a modern Asian eatery and bar with an Australian twist - where flavours of the East meet drinks of the West.We're ready when you are. Eat informally.COVID-19 RE-OPENING***BANQUET ONLY*** - DIETARIES MUST BE NOTIFIED AT TIME OF BOOKING$65PP OPTION MUST BE TAKEN FOR TABLES OF 6+ /...See More"

"Moon & Mountain is another well-known Asian restaurant in town. In fact, it is a famous modern Asian eatery and bar that serves up dishes with an Australian twist. Without a doubt, you will eat your best meals here."

"Lake Wendouree is a man-made and maintained shallow urban lake that has been a community destination for over 150 years. Located in central Ballarat next to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, the lake offers many recreational activities. You can eat at the cafes while enjoying the beautiful view of the lake or you can have fun canoeing, kayaking and sailing the lake."

"Just like Sovereign Hill, Lake Wendouree has a little bit of history to its name. It originally started as a stream that grew into a swamp and not before long, a lake. Lake Wendouree was first opened to the public in 1864 for recreational purposes and is an artificially created urban lake that is located in the heart of Ballarat."

"Summer days are best spent splashing around in the centre’s three outdoor pools (a heated 50-metre pool, a learn to swim pool, and a shaded toddlers pool) in the outdoor water play park with its sprinklers and fountains, or even the centre’s playground. Post-swim, relax in the shaded areas that line the poolside or visit the neighbouring Eureka Stockade park. Cost: $5 per adult, $4.20 per child (aged 5-16 years old), $15 for a family; kids under five enter free."

"And, if you love indoor waters- then this is your chance to splash into some of the best pool waters in all of Ballarat, and give it a go!. Wanna swim like a professional?. Did you know they give out swimming lessons too?"