New Belgium Special Release Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale -Four Roses

New Belgium Special Release Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale -Four Roses.

9 % ABV. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO. 

Clear, burgundy hued, creamy-toned head, moderately sized, but long lasting. Looking nice. 

In the nose: Smooth bourbon notes dominate, vanilla and cherry, with a touch of oak. I'm not sure what kind of ale this is at the base, but it's not getting in the way of the barrel. 

In the mouth: Tasty and toasty. Caramel flavors find their way on the palate to match the vanilla, cherry, oak, etc. Chock full o' bourbon goodness. Medium bodied, very mellow, warm and cool at once. Feels like a strong amber ale, wrapped up in the barrel. I keep going back to smooth, and I'll add elegant. 

I'm having this bottle along with the remains of a bottle of Four Roses (though not the Small Batch). The character comes through. 

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.