I hate you, Terrapin Liquid Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter. But I really love you, too. You see, Terrapin Liquid Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter was introduced as release number 18 in Terrapin’s Side Project series of specialty beers. I can still remember my excitement with the very first release in that series, Hop Shortage Ale, back in 2008. And you know, I hadn’t missed a single beer in the series after that.

At least not until Liquid Bliss was launched, and flew off store shelves so quickly I never managed to find a bottle. I should have expected that, I guess, what with peanuts and Georgia being so synonymous. My streak was broken, though, never to be restored, and I suppose some might say, “But Bruguru, at least the beer was so popular Terrapin has just made it a year-round beer!”

That is certainly true, as Terrapin Liquid Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter was launched as a regular offering in early June of 2014. Thing is, it’s not exactly the same beer. It’s been tweaked slightly, with basically the same ingredients but a bit more bitterness and less alcohol. So you see? I’ll never get to try the original….

OK, my friends, you didn’t come here for a pity party, so we’ll see how we like the latest incarnation of Side Project 18. Terrapin says the following about the beer on the label:

Unlock your inner Zen and delve into the Yin and Yang of two decadent flavors. Focus on the harmonic togetherness of chocolate and peanut butter as it takes you to a place that you never thought possible… a “Liquid Bliss.”

Ingredients from the website:

HOPS: US Goldings

MALTS: 2-row Pale, Wheat, Crystal 86, Crystal 120, Chocolate, Chocolate Wheat, Black

Terrapin Liquid Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter has an alcohol content of 6.1% by volume and 30 OBUs. My bottle says its best by November 15^th of 2014. I paid $8.99 for a six-pack, which is a good price these days and especially good for Terrapin. It’s about the same price just 22 ounces of the Side project edition would have commanded.

Terrapin Liquid Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter pours to a dark brownish black color with a medium sized head of tan foam and an absolutely wonderful nose of toasted peanuts and light chocolate. Taking a sip, the beer has good body and a definite nuttiness akin to freshly ground, not overly sweetened peanut butter. The chocolate comes through, too, and it just works perfectly with the peanut flavors to suggest, for me anyway, perhaps a Reeses’ cup but also a Mary Jane candy. Still, you will get both chocolate and peanut butter here, and the finish has a roasty balance to it.

This is very nicely done and an excellent dessert beer, or it can serve as dessert all by itself. It compares favorably to DuClaw Sweet Baby Jesus Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter, and I would give it 4 stars plus an extra half for the reasonable price. I’m passing a few bottles on to friends to get their thoughts, and I’ll certainly be buying more of this tasty treat. 

Update 4/14/2016: And I did! My latest Liquid Bliss experience is on tap at Taco Mac here in Canton. Chocolate, peanut butter, and a wonderful hint of roast make this treat dessert in a glass. The $6 price is not hard to take, either.



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