The Brewing Projekt Puff Tart XL 4Pk

The Brewing Projekt Puff Tart XL 4Pk is a fruit-forward imperial sour ale brewed with generous fruit purees and marshmallow flavor, ranging from 7% to 9.2% ABV depending on the variant. What distinguishes the Puff Tart XL from the crowded smoothie-sour field is its signature marshmallow backbone, which tempers the tartness and produces a dessert-like drinking experience that has earned ratings above 4.0 on Untappd across multiple variants.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7%–9.2% (varies by variant)  |  Origin: Eau Claire, Wisconsin  |  Style: Imperial Sour Ale  |  Brewery: The Brewing Projekt

Production & Heritage

The Brewing Projekt operates out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at 1807 N Oxford Ave, and has built a devoted following around its rotating lineup of heavily fruited sour ales. Puff Tart XL is brewed as an imperial sour, meaning a higher gravity base that supports heavier fruit additions without thinning out the body. Each release features a specific blend of fruit purees — mango, raspberry, guava, kiwi, and other tropical combinations have all appeared — layered with a distinctive marshmallow flavoring that gives the series its pastry-inspired name and pillowy sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright tropical fruit hits first, followed by waves of vanilla-laced marshmallow sweetness and a jammy berry undertone. The nose reads more like a fruit smoothie than a traditional sour ale.

Taste: The entry is thick and sweet, with concentrated fruit — mango, raspberry, or guava depending on the variant — flooding the palate immediately. Mid-palate, a sugary vanilla marshmallow character emerges and softens the tartness, creating a balanced push-pull between sour and sweet. The body is remarkably full, almost smoothie-like in texture, with a dessert quality that lingers through each sip.

Finish: Medium in length with residual fruit sweetness and a gentle tart edge that keeps it from becoming cloying. A faint marshmallow softness coats the palate on the way out.

How to Drink Puff Tart XL

Pour cold into a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the aromatics and showcase the beer's typically vibrant color. The thick, smoothie-like body is best enjoyed fresh and well-chilled — this is not a cellar candidate. For a beer float, drop a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream into a glass of Puff Tart XL to amplify the dessert character. It also pairs naturally with a brunch Shandy twist — blend it with a splash of fresh lemonade to stretch the tartness on a hot day. For something unconventional, use it in a beer-tail by shaking a small pour with citrus vodka and a splash of simple syrup over ice for a fruited sour cocktail.

Best For

• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the smoothie sour style
• Summer cookouts and backyard gatherings where bold, fruity flavors shine
• Gifting to someone who gravitates toward dessert-style or pastry beers
• Pairing alongside a brunch spread as a conversation-starting pour

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Puff Tart XL taste like? Puff Tart XL delivers a thick, smoothie-like body with intense tropical and berry fruit flavors balanced by a sugary vanilla marshmallow sweetness and a moderate sour tang that prevents it from becoming overly sweet.

How does Puff Tart XL compare to Drekker Braaaaaaaains? Both are flagship smoothie-style sours from Midwestern breweries, but Puff Tart XL leans harder into its marshmallow pastry character, while Drekker's Braaaaaaaains series tends to emphasize pure fruit intensity with a thicker, more viscous body. The two are frequently discussed side by side in the smoothie sour community, with preference often coming down to whether the drinker favors the dessert sweetness of Puff Tart or the fruit-bomb approach of Braaaaaaaains.

Is Puff Tart XL good for beginners? Its sweet, fruity, smoothie-like character makes it very approachable for drinkers new to sour ales, though the higher ABV (up to 9.2%) means it should be sipped with awareness despite tasting deceptively easy.

Where is Puff Tart XL made? Puff Tart XL is brewed by The Brewing Projekt at their facility on 1807 N Oxford Ave in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

What foods pair well with Puff Tart XL? Fresh fruit tarts and pastries echo the beer's dessert identity; tangy goat cheese balances the sweetness with savory contrast; lemon-glazed pound cake complements the tartness; Thai mango sticky rice mirrors the tropical flavors; and vanilla panna cotta creates an indulgent dessert pairing.

What sizes does Puff Tart XL come in? Puff Tart XL is available in a 4-pack of cans, the standard format for this release.

Is Puff Tart XL worth the price? Puff Tart XL positions in the premium craft segment, consistent with other heavily fruited imperial sours that require large quantities of fruit puree and specialty ingredients — the marshmallow addition and rotating fruit blends justify its place among top-tier smoothie sours.

Why Puff Tart XL?

The marshmallow element is the defining feature that separates Puff Tart XL from the hundreds of smoothie sours now crowding tap lists and cooler shelves. While many breweries load up on fruit puree alone, The Brewing Projekt threads a vanilla-marshmallow sweetness through the base that transforms each variant into something closer to a liquid pastry. Multiple variants have earned ratings above 4.0 on Untappd, and the Raspberry Guava expression scored 87 on BeerAdvocate, confirming consistent quality across the rotating lineup. For drinkers who want a sour ale that genuinely delivers on the dessert promise implied by its name, Puff Tart XL remains one of the more reliable options in the category.