Bringing together Knob Creek Bourbon and New Belgium’s shared passion for innovation and dedication to hard-earned flavor, Oakpsire Bourbon Barrel Ale features breakthrough technology to create an entirely new style of bourbon barrel ale. Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale was crafted using Knob Creek Bourbon-soaked oak spirals and barrel char to impart big, full flavor into New Belgium’s high rye base ale. To create this highly-drinkable bourbon-inspired ale, New Belgium’s brewing engineers designed a custom, three-part flavor extraction process to bring to life a full-flavored bourbon ale with notes of caramel, vanilla and toasted oak.
 
New Belgium Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale’s Brewing Process:
  • Step 1: Harvesting of Barrel Char – New Belgium worked with Knob Creek Bourbon to collect caramelized wood sugars, known as barrel char, from used, charred Knob Creek barrels at the distillery. The barrel char contributes sweet brown sugar and caramel tasting notes into the beer while it matures.
  • Step 2: Incorporating Bourbon Soaked Oak Spirals – To round out the bourbon character, New Belgium created a custom blend of Knob Creek Bourbon-soaked oak spirals to infuse secondary flavors of oak and spice into the ale. 
  • Step 3: Infusion of Flavor Using Custom Vessel – Bourbon-soaked oak spirals and barrel char are added to the custom, missile-shaped vessel to impart flavor into the beer while it matures.