New Belgium Oakspire 6Pk

New Belgium Oakspire 6-Pack is a 9.0% ABV American strong ale from New Belgium Brewing that draws its bourbon character from a proprietary oak-infusion process rather than traditional barrel aging. Rated 87 points ("very good") by Beer Advocate and carrying a solid 3.9 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 7,100 ratings, Oakspire has earned a loyal following among drinkers who want bourbon-barrel flavor with a distinct brewing approach.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.0%  |  Origin: Colorado, USA  |  Style: American Strong Ale  |  IBU: 27  |  Brewery: New Belgium Brewing

Production & Heritage

New Belgium Brewing, founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, built its reputation on inventive Belgian-inspired ales before expanding into a wide range of American craft styles. Oakspire takes a road less traveled: rather than aging beer inside spent bourbon barrels, the brewery uses a custom-built, proprietary infusion method that introduces charred oak spirals sourced from select Four Roses bourbon barrels directly into the ale. This technique extracts vanilla, caramel, and toasted-oak compounds while giving the brewers precise control over flavor intensity. The grain bill — Pale malt, Munich, Caramel 80, Rye, and Roasted Barley — is hopped with Nugget and Sabro varieties and lands at a restrained 27 IBUs, keeping bitterness well in the background so the malt and oak character can lead.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich toffee and vanilla bean rise first, followed by honeycomb sweetness and a subtle layer of toasted oak. A faint rye spice and hint of nutmeg emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-forward, delivering chewy caramel and bready yeast before rye spice and roasted barley bring structure at mid-palate. Deeper notes of raisins, dates, lemon curd, and cedar develop as the sip progresses, balanced by a honeycomb sweetness that keeps the 9% ABV from tipping into cloying territory. Toasted almonds and vanilla bean weave throughout.

Finish: Warming and moderately long, with lingering oak char, light booziness, and a final pulse of rye-driven spice. A gentle bitterness from the roasted barley dries the palate cleanly.

How to Drink Oakspire

Serve Oakspire at 50–55°F in a snifter or tulip glass to let the oak and malt aromatics open fully; a short rest after pouring rewards patience. Its bourbon-adjacent profile also makes it a compelling beer-cocktail ingredient. Try it in a Boilermaker alongside a pour of rye whiskey, where the shared spice notes create a seamless pairing. Use it in a Beer Old Fashioned — a float of Oakspire over muddled bitters and a sugar cube mirrors classic bourbon cocktail structure. It also works in a Black Velvet variation, blended with dry sparkling wine, where the ale's caramel weight anchors the effervescence.

Best For

• Cold-weather evening sessions when a high-ABV sipper replaces a nightcap
• Gifting a craft-beer enthusiast who gravitates toward bourbon-barrel styles
• Pairing with a charcuterie or cheese board at a dinner gathering
• Introducing bourbon-curious drinkers to barrel-influenced beer without overwhelming intensity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oakspire taste like? Oakspire delivers toffee, vanilla bean, and chewy caramel up front, followed by rye spice, roasted barley, and warming oak char on the finish. Dark-fruit notes of raisin and date add complexity beneath the bourbon-inspired sweetness.

How does Oakspire compare to Goose Island Bourbon County Stout? Both are high-ABV, bourbon-influenced ales, but Bourbon County is a significantly more intense imperial stout aged in actual bourbon barrels, typically at 14%+ ABV. Oakspire is lighter in body, lower in alcohol at 9%, and uses oak-spiral infusion rather than full barrel aging, making it more approachable and less boozy.

Is Oakspire good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its 9% ABV, complex malt bill, and layered oak character make it a strong candidate for slow, contemplative drinking from a snifter, much like a barleywine or Belgian strong ale.

Where is Oakspire made? Oakspire is brewed by New Belgium Brewing, headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado. New Belgium was founded in 1991 and is one of the largest craft breweries in the United States.

What foods pair well with Oakspire? Smoked brisket or pulled pork benefits from the ale's caramel sweetness cutting through fat. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echoes its nutty, toasty malt notes. Dark chocolate desserts complement the roasted barley and vanilla. Pecan pie mirrors the toffee and toasted-nut character. Blue cheese amplifies the rye spice while the malt balances the funk.

What sizes does Oakspire come in? Oakspire is commonly available in a 6-pack of 12 oz bottles or cans, with single cans also found in some markets.

Is Oakspire worth the price? Oakspire positions as a premium craft strong ale — its proprietary Four Roses oak-infusion process, complex grain bill, and 9% ABV place it above standard craft six-packs in both quality and price tier, delivering barrel-influenced depth that competes with pricier single-bottle barrel-aged releases.

Why Oakspire?

The standout differentiator is the production method itself: instead of simply filling a used bourbon barrel and waiting, New Belgium engineered a proprietary infusion system using charred oak spirals from select Four Roses bourbon barrels to extract flavor with a level of precision that standard barrel aging cannot match. The result is a remarkably clean bourbon-oak character layered onto a complex five-malt, dual-hop ale — no off-notes from inconsistent barrel lots, no over-extraction. With an 87-point Beer Advocate rating and thousands of positive Untappd reviews confirming its consistency, Oakspire fills a gap for drinkers who want bourbon-barrel depth in a format they can share across a six-pack rather than rationing from a single high-priced bottle.