Separate to the Ballarat Beer Festival at Lake Wendouree on Saturday, the Quarter Bar opened up for the first time at Alfred Deakin Place on Friday and Sunday.
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Organised by Ballarat's own Dollar Bill Brewing, the shipping container installation offered a complementary experience for beer lovers in town for the festival.
The 25 taps ranged from traditional lagers, saisons and golden ales, to whey stouts, pineapple sours, and a lemon meringue beer from Orbost's Sailors Grave Brewing.
The focus was mainly on Ballarat-made beers, including breweries like Red Duck and Cubby Haus.
Dollar Bill's Ed Nolle had several sour beers and a cider on offer, and said the inaugural event had been well-received.
"There's a lot of people out here, and people are loving it, they're loving the paddles," he said.
"Our point of difference (is) we're about educating people, and they can read the booklet to find out what they want to try, then get a tasting paddle of beers for a fairly cheap price."
The Quarter Bar, which is highly portable and low-cost to operate, could pop up at other events, he added, but this first weekend was a good way to get the ball rolling.
"It's trying to make Ballarat a destination across the weekend, and not just a day trip," he said.
"It was really short notice and council got on board, it complements the Beer Festival."
Dozens of people were enjoying lounging around the square, with Callum Morton's unavoidable Monument #32: Helter Shelter provoking conversation.
Mr Nolle said he quite liked being near the outdoor art, next to the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
"A lot of people are considering beer as art, and art and beer have this symbiotic relationship," he said.
"I think the idea of art is to make you get lost in it - and with beer, you can explore it as well."
Note - The Valhalla Brewing Lime Bucket cheesecake sour, a punchy and ridiculous summery beer, is highly recommended.
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