The Brewing Projekt Puff Tart XL Mandarin, Raspberry, Blood Orange 4Pk

The Brewing Projekt Puff Tart XL Mandarin, Raspberry, Blood Orange 4Pk is an imperial kettle sour ale brewed with mandarin, raspberry, blood orange, and natural marshmallow flavoring from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Brewing Projekt earned recognition from Food & Wine as one of "19 Craft Breweries Worth Going Out of Your Way For," and the Puff Tart XL series holds a strong 4.2 out of 5 rating across over 2,100 reviews on Untappd.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~8–10% (XL series range)  |  Origin: Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: Imperial Kettle Sour  |  Brewery: The Brewing Projekt

Production & Heritage

The Brewing Projekt operates out of 1807 N Oxford Ave in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where the brewing team has built a devoted following around aggressively fruited sour ales. Puff Tart XL is the amplified version of their flagship Puff Tart line — an imperial kettle sour loaded with whole fruit additions of mandarin, raspberry, and blood orange, then layered with natural marshmallow flavoring to mimic the pillowy sweetness of a toaster pastry. The kettle souring process introduces lactic acid bacteria before the boil, creating a controlled tartness that serves as the backbone for the heavy fruit and marshmallow additions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright citrus leads immediately, with ripe mandarin and blood orange dominating the nose. Behind the citrus sits a wave of raspberry jam and a subtle vanilla-marshmallow sweetness that rounds out the aromatics.

Taste: The entry is juicy and tart, with blood orange and raspberry hitting in quick succession across the front palate. At mid-palate, mandarin citrus adds a sweeter, rounder layer that transitions into a sugary vanilla-marshmallow note. The lactic sourness stays controlled throughout — delivering big fruit intensity without the face-puckering acidity that plagues lesser sours.

Finish: Medium in length, with lingering raspberry tartness and a soft marshmallow creaminess that gently fades. The blood orange returns as a final citrus echo, keeping the finish clean and drinkable despite the beer's imperial strength.

How to Drink Puff Tart XL

Pour cold into a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the aromatic fruit and marshmallow layers; this beer rewards drinking fresh rather than cellaring. While built to stand on its own, Puff Tart XL also works in creative beer cocktail applications: a Berliner Shandy mixed with fresh lemonade amplifies the citrus character; a Sour Float topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream leans into the marshmallow dessert quality; and a Radler-style blend with sparkling grapefruit soda stretches the can into a sessionable warm-weather drink.

Best For

• Sharing with friends who say they don't like sour beer — the marshmallow sweetness bridges the gap
• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where a bold, fruity beer stands up to heat
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who collects limited and specialty releases
• Pairing alongside brunch spreads featuring pastries, fruit tarts, or citrus-forward dishes

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Puff Tart XL taste like? Puff Tart XL delivers a juicy blast of mandarin, raspberry, and blood orange layered over a creamy marshmallow sweetness, all balanced by a controlled lactic tartness. The fruit flavors are bold and forward, while the marshmallow smooths out the acidity for a dessert-like drinking experience.

How does Puff Tart XL compare to Evil Twin x Trillium Even More Daily Servings? Both are heavily fruited sours with marshmallow additions, but Puff Tart XL leans more aggressively into layered citrus — mandarin and blood orange — where Even More Daily Servings centers its fruit profile around raspberry with a more balanced sweet-tart equilibrium. Puff Tart XL also trends toward a higher ABV as an imperial expression, giving it more body and residual sweetness.

Is Puff Tart XL good for sour beer beginners? Yes — the natural marshmallow flavoring and heavy fruit additions temper the acidity significantly, making this an approachable entry point for drinkers who find traditional sours too sharp or one-dimensional.

Where is Puff Tart XL made? Puff Tart XL is brewed by The Brewing Projekt at their facility on North Oxford Avenue in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a mid-sized city in the western part of the state known for a growing craft brewing scene.

What foods pair well with Puff Tart XL? Fresh fruit tarts and pastries echo the beer's namesake inspiration. Soft, creamy cheeses like brie or chèvre complement the lactic tartness. Grilled chicken with a citrus glaze matches the mandarin and blood orange notes. Lemon bars or raspberry cheesecake lean into the dessert character. Light ceviche or shrimp tacos with citrus salsa create a refreshing contrast.

What sizes does Puff Tart XL come in? This release is packaged as a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard format for The Brewing Projekt's Puff Tart XL series.

Is Puff Tart XL worth the price? Puff Tart XL positions as a premium craft sour ale, and its price reflects the heavy fruit and specialty ingredient additions that define the style. Within the imperial fruited sour category, its Untappd rating of 4.2 across thousands of reviews places it among the better-regarded options, delivering strong value for fans of the style.

Why Puff Tart XL?

The Brewing Projekt built its reputation on pushing the fruited sour format further than most breweries dare, and Puff Tart XL is the flagship expression of that philosophy. The triple-fruit combination of mandarin, raspberry, and blood orange creates a more complex citrus profile than single-fruit sours can achieve, while the natural marshmallow flavoring adds a textural and flavor dimension that genuinely distinguishes it from standard kettle sours. With over 2,100 Untappd ratings averaging 4.2 and the brewery's Food & Wine recognition as a destination-worthy craft operation, Puff Tart XL carries both critical credibility and a loyal following that keeps each release in demand.