New Belgium Oakspire Old Fashioned Bourbon Barrel Ale

The Winter holiday beers are here! New Belgium has been producing the Oakspire special edition holiday ales for the last three years, with a slightly different take each year. This year it's a bourbon barrel aged ale inspired by the Old Fashioned. It's an ale aged in oak bourbon barrels infused with cherry and orange and a touch of bitters. 

(I have to admit that, aside from my love of bourbon oak barrel aged ales, the name "Oakspire" sounded similar enough to my adopted "pagan/craft" name of Oakspear to get my attention)

Oakspire pours a coppery hue without not much of a head. There's a subdued whiskey taste,  surprisingly mild alcohol heat from the 9% ABV, with vanilla & oak, mixed with the cherry and orange. A tiny taste of anise and nutmeg. A very smooth ale. Could be a new holiday favorite!