Looking for something unusual to do this weekend? Fine Creek Brewing Company might just have what you’re looking for.

The Powhatan brewery will host its annual, two-day Wild and Weird festival starting Saturday, April 26. Now in its eighth year, the event celebrates some of the funkiest, experimental beers imaginable in Virginia.

“Wild and Weird came from the idea that we knew we wanted to focus on mixed-fermentation beer, and also because there weren’t any festivals in Virginia that focused on those styles,” says J.J. Jones, the brewery’s spokesperson. “We wanted to highlight other breweries that were putting their weight behind those beers and make it collaborative.”

The festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. each day. Guests can expect live music, Fine Creek’s regular tap-list lineup and monthly food menu available as well as treats at its onsite general store and café. Plus, keep an eye out for some local vendors, like Keya’s Snacks.

And, of course, there will be plenty of fellow beer enthusiasts to mingle with an opportunities to discover more about the quirky world of mixed fermentation.

For the beer layman, mixed fermentation is an exploratory process using unconventional microbes, like Brett strains, or beer fermentation methods, like carbonic maceration. It allows brewers to concoct their own cultures giving batches distinct tastes, often unlike anything your taste buds have ever experienced. Flavors can range anywhere from fruity to intensely sour.

This year’s Wild and Weird currently has 14 breweries participating, all of which will show off their most unique mixed fermentation blends—some of which have been exclusively created for the event.

One to look forward to is Crooked Run Fermentation’s Prima. The gueuze-inspired beer is crafted with the same methods as Belgian lambic. There’s also Mieza Blendery’s Ruins of St. Giles which is a mixed-culture saison blend aged in gin barrels. Fine Creek will also debut a mixed-culture gose (a German-style wheat beer) featuring blackberries and plums that were grown on their property.

Fine Creek Brewing Company came to fruition in 2017. The limited production farm brewery was a dream of Powhatan native and co-owner Mark Benusa and has steadily grown as it strives to craft high-quality selections. In fact, VinePair recently named it one of the top 20 breweries to keep an eye on this year.

Wild & Weird has since become a sought-after event for many in the commonwealth. What started as a simple celebration has expanded as Virginia breweries and beer lovers become more intrigued about creative possibilities.

“Wild & Weird has grown a lot over the years, incorporating more breweries and more local vendors. After a couple years, breweries began to reach out to us to participate, and I think it has inspired us all to dive deeper into this particular style,” says Jones. “Brian Mandeville, our head brewer, is immensely talented and knowledgeable. He has an incredible palate for these styles and is the reason our beer program is what it is today.”

While mixed-fermentation beers might not be what’s typically in your glass, they’re certainly worth trying, even if just once; and Wild and Weird is the perfect place to dive into this groovy world.

“Even those that believe they ‘don’t like sours’ will be surprised at the vast array of flavor profiles that mixed-fermentation beers can present,” says Jones. “It’s a wonderful way to try something new and very different from what you’re used to, as well as learn the processes behind the scenes. These beers are a wonderful example of a dedication to a craft and the science behind it.”