New Belgium Oakspire Barrel-Aged Ale Review
By Richard Thomas
Rating: B+
(Credit: New Belgium Brewing)
Several years ago, Kirin stablemates Four Roses Bourbon and Asheville, North Carolina’s New Belgium Brewing announced they were doing a collaboration brew: Four Roses bourbon barrels would be sent to New Belgium and used to make a bourbon barrel ale. The twist is that New Belgium reportedly used their own infusion methods to pull extra flavor out of the barrel. The result was Oakspire, a bourbon barrel ale that has come out every year since.
It took me a long time to come around to Oakspire, and this despite Asheville being my springtime getaway destination of choice. The reason is simple enough: springtime is not when Oakspire is released.
The Beer
Oakspire 2025 came in with an ABV of 9%, which is pretty typical for the bourbon barrel ales of my experience. What isn’t typical is the entire remainder of this ale’s character. So often, bourbon barrel ales are so heavy on the bourbon barrel influence that the actual ale itself is smothered or lost. The result is a dessert beer; the classic example is my own locale’s foundational Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. Oakspire is an altogether different animal.
The malty sweet amber ale is not just still there, but predominant. I find the hype surrounding “infusion” a little odd and perhaps misplaced, because the barrel accents the ale here. Given the track record for this class of beer, I would think if New Belgium was trying to pull more flavor from the barrel, the result would be the opposite. Instead, Oakspire is an amber ale with vanilla accents, which in fact you can see just by looking at it. The stuff is amber; other barrel aged ales turn brown. The irony there being bourbon itself is amber.
So, my opinion of Oakspire is if you want a barrel-aged amber ale that only leans into the barrel part, this is your bottle. It’s a beer first and foremost, lovely for everyday drinking and something you can serve with dinner, not a dessert or a bourbon bomb of a beer.
The Price
My Total Wine & More is carrying six packs for $14.
