Ballarat’s own Aunty Jacks is a brewpub situated in the heart of the CBD – a highlight of the thriving food, drink, entertainment precinct! Our mission is to create outstanding beer that’s brewed on the Mair St site using the best quality natural and often local ingredients.
The award winning brewing team strives to meet their own lofty standards as evidenced by the multiple medals they have won at major beer competitions.
Aunty Jacks provides a number of classic beer styles whilst also exploring into modern and exciting brews. As well as the main stayers listed below, check out the seasonal offerings and the pilot batches too!
From a crisp, clear lager through the hopfields of vibrant ales and a robust dark beer that shouldn’t be missed – the core range beer have been honed into award winning examples of style.
A more innovative space, some modern takes on classic examples and genre defying beers that hope to bring new flavours for your enjoyment.
As well as meeting and maintaining some high standards of quality in our beers, Aunty Jacks aims to do so in a sustainable manner where all facets of brewing are explored to be as environmentally conscious as possible.
We’re our own biggest supplier meaning there's no freight to get beer into the venue.
Spent grain is wheeled around the corner to 1816 Bakery where they make an amazing spent grain sourdough. We send the rest of the spent grain to local farmers to feed their sheep and cattle.
We have repurposed materials in the venue fitout to minimise the amount of new materials required.
The cans are 100% and infinitely recyclable.
We aim for 0% wastage when preparing the menu, all ‘offcuts’ are used for another purpose.
We have 59 solar panels on the brewery powering over 80% of our electricity needs and we use heat recovery to reduce energy use.
Matt has been brewing the good stuff at AJs since shortly after it opened in 2020. With 8 years in the brewing industry and a stretch in liquor sales beyond that; Matt brings a consistent and measured approach to crafting the beers and enjoys the sleeves-up, hands-on approach to being on the tools.
After a very cliché start to brewing – bathtub full of bottles, labels peeling off, maybe a few explosive surprises – Matt parked his home brewing for a number of years to focus on study. When a career change beckoned he knocked on the right doors and was head first into the brewing scene, first slinging beers at a brewpub in NSW before returning home to Victoria working in a production brewery that saw the team win numerous local and international beer awards as well as rapid expansion and a commitment to quality regional Victorian product.
Matt has completed brewing science courses through major institutions in UK and Belgium and has a continued focus on education and innovation within the industry.
Aunty Jacks beers have too been awarded medals and a trophy at Australia’s leading brewing accolades the AIBAs with the entire core range landing a medal at the 2023 awards, headed up by a Trophy for Mair St Märzen for ‘Best European Style Lager’
