Image credit: New Belgium Brewing.
New Belgium Brewing has once again partnered with Four Roses Distillery to announce the 2025 release of Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale.
First released in 2018 as a limited edition release for the holidays, Oakspire was so well received that New Belgium turned it into an annual release. The 2018-2020 releases were created in collaboration with Knob Creek, but New Belgium has partnered with Four Roses on each subsequent release to date.
To create Oakspire, New Belgium’s engineers developed custom, stainless-steel vessels that allow it to infuse beer without aging it in barrels. These vessels hold charred oak chips from Four Roses’ bourbon barrels, as well as custom toasted oak spirals infused with Four Roses’ bourbon. New Belgium’s high-rye base ale is then circulated through these vessels during maturation, imparting notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and toffee.
This years release of Oakspire was brewed with Ale yeast, Nugget and Sabro hops, and Pale, Munich, Caramel 80, rye, and roasted barley malt, resulting in a beer with 27 IBUs and an ABV of 9.0%.
Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale is available at New Belgium Brewery’s Liquid Centers in Fort Collins and Asheville, at the Four Roses Visitor Centers in Lawrenceburg and Cox’s Creek, KY, and at select retailers nationwide.
Source: New Belgium Brewing.