The Brewing Projekt Orange Drank 4Pk

The Brewing Projekt Orange Drank 4Pk is an imperial sour ale brewed with mandarin orange and marshmallow flavors, packaged as a four-pack at 9.5% ABV. Scoring 90 out of 100 on BeerAdvocate and holding a 4.0 rating across more than 6,600 Untappd reviews, this kettle-soured ale has earned a dedicated following among fans of bold, dessert-inspired sours.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.5%  |  Origin: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: Imperial Sour Ale  |  Brewery: The Brewing Projekt

Production & Heritage

The Brewing Projekt operates out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a city that has become an increasingly respected hub for inventive craft brewing. Orange Drank is produced using a kettle sour method, where the wort is acidified with lactobacillus before the boil rather than during fermentation, resulting in a controlled and clean sourness. What distinguishes this expression within the brewery's lineup is the addition of mandarin orange and marshmallow flavoring — a combination that has become something of a house signature for The Brewing Projekt's sour series, layering confectionery sweetness over a tart base at an assertive imperial strength.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe mandarin orange dominates immediately, followed by a pronounced marshmallow sweetness that adds a pillowy, vanilla-adjacent quality. The sour base peeks through just beneath, lending a subtle tartness to the nose.

Taste: The entry is bright with citrus — tangerine and mandarin orange flood the palate in a way reviewers consistently liken to a smoothie or creamsicle. At mid-palate, the marshmallow character rounds things out, softening the acidity and introducing a creamy sweetness. Despite the 9.5% ABV, the alcohol is remarkably well-integrated, with only a gentle warmth emerging toward the peak.

Finish: Medium in length, with lingering orange zest and a marshmallow fade that recalls a classic 50/50 ice cream bar. The mouthfeel remains creamy and smooth throughout, supported by very restrained carbonation that reinforces the smoothie-like body.

How to Drink Orange Drank

Orange Drank is best served chilled in a tulip glass or snifter, which concentrates the aromatic marshmallow and citrus notes. At 9.5%, sipping it slowly allows the complexity to unfold without the alcohol sneaking up on you. For a beer float, pour Orange Drank over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream — the creamsicle character intensifies dramatically. It also works surprisingly well in a Sour Shandy build, blended with lemonade and a splash of orange liqueur for a high-octane summer cocktail. For a Radler-style serve, mix it half-and-half with sparkling water and a squeeze of fresh tangerine to tame the sweetness while keeping the citrus forward.

Best For

• Sharing at a backyard barbecue where a conversation-starting beer makes an impression
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward fruited and pastry-style sours
• Pairing alongside a dessert course at a dinner party
• Exploring high-ABV sour ales beyond the standard tart and funky profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Orange Drank taste like? Orange Drank delivers intense mandarin orange and tangerine citrus layered over a creamy marshmallow sweetness, with a restrained sour backbone that keeps it from becoming cloying. Reviewers frequently compare the flavor to a creamsicle or orange smoothie.

How does Orange Drank compare to other dessert-inspired fruited sours? Orange Drank stands out in the pastry sour category for its kettle-soured base, which produces a cleaner, more controlled acidity than wild or mixed-fermentation sours. The marshmallow addition is a signature element of The Brewing Projekt's approach, giving it a distinctly creamy, confectionery character that leans more toward a drinkable dessert than a pucker-inducing sour.

Is Orange Drank good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the smooth, medium body and restrained carbonation make it a natural sipper, though the 9.5% ABV warrants a measured pace. The balanced interplay between citrus tartness and marshmallow sweetness holds interest from first sip to last.

Where is Orange Drank made? Orange Drank is brewed by The Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The brewery is known for its inventive lineup of sour ales, stouts, and hop-forward beers produced in the Chippewa Valley region of western Wisconsin.

What foods pair well with Orange Drank? Vanilla bean cheesecake mirrors the marshmallow sweetness and creates a full dessert experience. Grilled shrimp with a citrus glaze plays off the mandarin orange notes. Tangy goat cheese on crostini contrasts the sweetness with savory acidity. Thai mango sticky rice echoes the tropical-meets-creamy profile. Dark chocolate truffles provide a bittersweet counterpoint that balances the beer's sugar-forward character.

What sizes does Orange Drank come in? Orange Drank is commonly available in a four-pack of cans, which is the standard format for this release from The Brewing Projekt.

Is Orange Drank worth the price? Orange Drank positions as a premium craft offering within the imperial sour category, and its 90-point BeerAdvocate score alongside thousands of favorable Untappd ratings suggest strong value for the style. The 9.5% ABV also delivers significant strength per serving compared to standard-ABV fruited sours.

Why Orange Drank?

A 90-point BeerAdvocate score and over 6,600 Untappd ratings speak to a beer that has earned genuine enthusiasm rather than hype alone. The kettle sour process gives Orange Drank a precision that separates it from the sometimes unpredictable world of wild-fermented sours — you get consistent, clean tartness as a canvas for the mandarin orange and marshmallow. At 9.5% ABV, it manages to drink well below its weight class, hiding its strength behind a creamy, smoothie-like body that finishes like a nostalgic ice cream treat. For anyone serious about exploring the outer boundaries of what sour ale can be, this is a benchmark expression from one of Wisconsin's most inventive breweries.