Oakspire
New Belgium Brewing Company
- From:
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
Ranked #162 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #23,120 - Avg:
- 3.87 | pDev: 9.56%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 72
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 27, 2026
- Added:
- Oct 30, 2021
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 10
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
We first began brewing Oakspire in 2018 as a special release around the Holidays and it has since become a fan favorite. In 2021, we're thrilled to partner with Four Roses Distillery, known for their smooth, fruit forward and slightly spicy bourbons. Oakspire features a custom-built, proprietary infusion method to pull the flavors from the bourbon-steeped charred oak and marries it with a malty-sweet, deep amber ale.
IBU: 27
CALORIES: 265
YEAST: Ale
HOPS: Nugget, Sabro
MALT: Pale, Munich, Caramel 80, Rye, Roasted Barley
IBU: 27
CALORIES: 265
YEAST: Ale
HOPS: Nugget, Sabro
MALT: Pale, Munich, Caramel 80, Rye, Roasted Barley
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mattpressley:
Reviewed by mattpressley from North Carolina
3.41/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Smells like an Old English 800. Tastes dry. No sweetness. Oak notes for sure, but the Four Roses bourbon stamp is there for...what? I can't taste any bourbon in this. If you want to pay $3 for a 9% beer that's not an IPA, get this. But price aside, this beer leaves me thirsty for something better.
Oct 20, 2025More User Ratings:
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan
4.02/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle – enjoy by 06 Sep 2026
New Belgium Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale poured a dark copper/amber color while producing a 1-finger bubbly off-white head. The cap left behind a nice clingy lacing. The aroma is lightly sweet; of bourbon, toasted bread, caramel, and a light vanilla. The taste is dominated by light sweet malt and bourbon. Also noted, is dark fruit and caramel. The body is medium with medium carbonation. A light warming from the alcohol at the finish.
Oakspire is a tasty, flavorful ale.
Mar 27, 2026New Belgium Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale poured a dark copper/amber color while producing a 1-finger bubbly off-white head. The cap left behind a nice clingy lacing. The aroma is lightly sweet; of bourbon, toasted bread, caramel, and a light vanilla. The taste is dominated by light sweet malt and bourbon. Also noted, is dark fruit and caramel. The body is medium with medium carbonation. A light warming from the alcohol at the finish.
Oakspire is a tasty, flavorful ale.
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas
3/5 rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
(review from December 2021) See initial review of Oakspire. Tastes much less whiskyish than three years ago??
(review from January 2026) Second attempt, same reaction. Like so many other breweries, New Holland ain't New Holland no mo'.
Jan 26, 2026(review from January 2026) Second attempt, same reaction. Like so many other breweries, New Holland ain't New Holland no mo'.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.93/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
RB transfer
Jan 12, 2026
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nearly clear dark reddish brown With a 1/2F head and light lacing.
Smells of yeast, malt, a bit of red wine and sweet dark fruit.
Tastes of malt, bready yeast, raisins, dates and caramel with a spicy ( rye mash and oaky ) lightly bitter and boozy warm finish.
Medium body with light carbonation. Lightly syrupy mouthfeel.
This is a decent , spicy and strong sipper. It is near being a Belgian quad but less fruity and more oakie.
Dec 14, 2025Smells of yeast, malt, a bit of red wine and sweet dark fruit.
Tastes of malt, bready yeast, raisins, dates and caramel with a spicy ( rye mash and oaky ) lightly bitter and boozy warm finish.
Medium body with light carbonation. Lightly syrupy mouthfeel.
This is a decent , spicy and strong sipper. It is near being a Belgian quad but less fruity and more oakie.
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.77/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
A: crystal clear; bronze colored; 1 finger finely pored tan head that receded to a wispy cap with a thick collar; nice lacing;
S: almost no aroma; what's there is oak, dark fruit, and sweet malt;
T: dark fruit and sweet malt from start to finish; mild bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; dry finish; ABV is warming, but not hot - fairly well hidden;
O: good, but I had higher hopes;
Nov 22, 2025S: almost no aroma; what's there is oak, dark fruit, and sweet malt;
T: dark fruit and sweet malt from start to finish; mild bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; dry finish; ABV is warming, but not hot - fairly well hidden;
O: good, but I had higher hopes;
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.91/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.91/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
6-pack from my trusted liquor store
Nov 14, 2025
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
3.81/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle (BB Oct 24), it pours a clear solid amber color with a large thick light tan head that slowly reduces. The nose gets a little nutty scent, followed by the mouth gettinga slight bourbony flavor, followed by roasted malts with a touch of bitterness and some lingering light bitterness in the aftertaste.
Oct 24, 2025
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania
3.77/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light brownish copper color with a finger of head. The nose has no noticeable bourbon but there are some mild notes of oak and some faint floral funkiness. There is more dry oakiness in the flavor profile, but again, no real hint of bourbon.
Oct 09, 2025
Reviewed by ColoradoBobs from Colorado
3.78/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Beautiful pour with a huge light tan rocky head over a clear amber body. Head fades slowly. Ample lacing. Fascinating smell of hazelnuts and pecans. Taste of cracker malt, pecans, leather. Light hops bitterness. Warmly rich mouthfeel. The label promises a Four Roses bourbon note, but the beverage sadly does not deliver.
Mar 04, 2025
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
4.41/5 rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Brown amber appearance, khaki head, not much retention or lacing. Malt, bread, nut, oak, very faint bourbon notes. Good body, crisp mouthfeel. Very good, but lacking the bourbon notes expected.
Jan 25, 2025
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