Bleak & Brewtal is Back For The Second Year of Strong Ales

March 01, 2023

This weekend at 38th and Colley, Reaver Beach is hosting its second annual Bleak and Brewtal Strong Ale Festival. Ten breweries will be pouring the strongest ales they have to offer alongside a day full of entertainment. 

You might be asking yourself, what’s a strong ale? Will the beers be breaking themselves free from the kegs? Will they punch me when I go in for a sip? Will they challenge me to a bench press competition in front of my friends?

A strong ale is a broad category of beer from different styles with an ABV of 7% or higher. Bleak & Brewtal, though, will be featuring all beers at 7.5% ABV or higher.  That’s nearly double the typical 4% seen in classic light beers. 

The strong ale is a challenging beer to make. Barleywines, Barrel Aged Stouts, Belgian Strong Ales, and other varieties can be strong ales, but brewing a high-ABV beer is not too tough. However, making one that has a higher alcohol content and still tastes palatable isn’t for the weak kneed. The careful balance of flavors and smells needed for these strong ales is a specialty brewing feat. 

Reaver Beach’s Bleak and Brewtal will feature the best strong ales from Brothers Craft Brewing, New Realm Brewing, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Bingo Beer Co, Vanish, Black Narrows Brewing Company, The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Float Fermentations, Nost Brewing Project, and (of course) Reaver Beach. 

The ticket for the event includes unlimited tastings from each featured brewery as well as a commemorative glass. Reaver Beach curated the list of breweries to bring in breweries that might be new to most locals, so the tasting saves a few hours of driving around Virginia. 

The beers aren’t the only “strong” at this annual get-together. This largely-outdoor event is taking place in the midst of winter, and the weather could be brewtal. Although, toughing out the chill is a little easier with a couple of high-ABV brews. 

While the full list of strong ales is impressive, Reaver Beach is dropping two just for the occasion. “Windlass” – Wee Heavy clocking in at 8% ABV, and “This is (Barley)Fine” – Barrell Aged Barely Wine with a UBER-strong 11% ABV. 

Strong beers have been paired with strong menus as well. Bar-Q Barbecue and Flippin’ Hangry will be on-site, serving up some well-loved favorites. 

As for entertainment, Matt Holloman and Derek Smith are scheduled to perform live for the event. For those wanting to see how strong they really are, Killin’ Pine will have their mobile axe-throwing trailer onsite. Retail vendors will also be there to supply some of the best small biz and handmade wares around. 

Throw off your winter worries, mark the end of dry January/ February, and embrace the strength of the local beer scene. 

Bleak and Brewtal Strong Ale Fest

Reaver Beach Norfolk 

3800 Colley Avenue 

Norfolk Va 2350

Saturday, March 4th

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

*Taproom still open to the public without tickets*

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