Lunch and drinks at Hop Temple
Hidden down a photogenic umbrella-filled laneway, this chilled out beerhall showcases over 220 craft beers and ciders. The menu features smoked-in house BBQ and pitmaster plates, tacos, burgers, pizza and nibbles.
Check our Red Duck Brewery and Distillery
It’s a two-for-one deal at Ballarat’s Red Duck Distillery, which also has a craft brewery under the same roof. This artisan spirits maker’s premium line-up includes Signature Dry Gin, Shiraz Gin, Secret Hop Garden Gin, Queen of the Desert Gin, Wonderland Gin, and Lilli Pilli and Finger Lime Vodka. You can also meet the Red Duck team and taste their range of beers and gins at the Ballarat Farmers’ Market on the second and fourth Saturday of the month at Lake Wendouree.
Pre-dinner drinks at Grainery Lane
Eight gins and two vodkas are made on site at new Ballarat cocktail bar Grainery Lane, with a 400-litre copper a feature of the Gatsby-style space. Many of the sharing plates on the south-east Asian/Latin American menu are infused with Grainery Lane spirits – think gin-infused oysters and vodka beetroot. For an in-depth experience: Grainery Lane host a regular Gin Tasting and Blending Masterclass as well as special events such as G&Tea.
Dinner and drinks at Itinerant Spirits
Housed within the heritage-listed Ballarat Goods Shed, Itinerant Spirits is decked out with a 3000-litre vodka and whiskey-producing German Kothe still, a 650-litre gin still and a 24,000-litre on-grain brewhouse. Top off the night with pizza, pasta, cheese and charcuterie boards or sharing plates from Nolans and Boom Time Dumplings under the same roof.
Breakfast at Johnny Alloo
Locally owned and operated, Johnny Alloo offers more than just your usual café experience. Showcasing the diversity of what the region has to offer including local produce, wines, boutique beers and great coffee.
Continue your journey at Kilderkin Distillery
Kilderkin Distillery combines traditional distilling methods with contemporary approaches. Its award-winning Larrikin Gin is produced by forcing distillation vapours through baskets containing a range of botanicals, resulting in a smooth, light and well-balanced spirit. With a diverse range of blends available to sample at the distillery, you can also find Kilderkin’s custom blends around Ballarat, including Sovereign Hill‘s Sly Grog and gold-flecked Gilded Grog. For an in-depth experience: Kilderkin run regular Distil Your Own Gin workshops, gourmet toastie pop-ups by MasterChef alumni Tim Bone and hands-on special events such as Cocktail Making and Gin-inspired Candle Making.
Sample the ales at Cubby Haus Brewing
Whether you’re looking for a cold brew after a cycle around the city with mates or you’re up for a yarn over a pizza, you’ll find Cubby Haus Brewing at 884 Humffray St Sth, Mount Pleasant. Brewer Malcolm Sachs is always up for a chat about his hand-built 500-litre brew house and natural beers, which are based on traditional styles from around the world. Join him for beer tastings, pizza and some classic tunes from his vinyl and CD collection.
Cubby Haus Brewing – Brewery and Bar
884 Humffray Street South, Mount Pleasant, VIC 3350
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Taste the taps at Aunty Jacks
This CBD brewpub combines quality craft beer and deliciously snackable food with hands-on workshops which teach you about all things beer. Around 100,000 litres of beer – including lager, pale ale, stout and seasonal specials – is produced on site each year, and you have the chance to see all this first-hand.
Looking for more? Visit Mrs Baker's Still House in the Pyrenees
Nestled in the Pyrenees Ranges about an hour out of Ballarat you’ll find the tiny hamlet of Glenpatrick. Little more than 30 people live in this pristine valley, where grazing land joins rugged forest. This is the home of Mrs Baker’s Still House, a female lead micro-distillery making award winning gins and liqueurs.
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