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Snakebite Drink

Want to feel like you’re enjoying a pint at an English pub? Try making a Snakebite Drink! This equal parts “beertail” is made with hard cider and lager beer. It’s a refreshing drink that’s perfect with a side of fried green tomatoes.

I love refreshing summer drinks that come together in minutes with hardly any effort. Don’t you? My favorites are probably the Arnold Palmer drink and John Daly drink, but lately we’ve been sipping on Snakebite Drinks from the UK. This simple drink is made with equal parts hard cider and lager beer, which means all you need to do is pour and sip!

Why is this Drink Called a Snakebite?

No one knows for sure, but some think this pub drink is called a Snakebite because it has a “bite” to it. As in, if you have one too many of these drinks you’ll definitively get tipsy and feel it the next day.

Is a Snakebite banned in the UK?

No, the Snakebite Drink is not banned in the UK. This misconception stems from a 2001 trip when former US President Bill Clinton asked for a Snakebite at a tavern, and was refused on the grounds that the pub manager thought it was illegal.

Why would a Snakebite be illegal?

This is the subject of some debate since the drink is, in fact, not illegal. Some say the pub manager who refused President Clinton thought it was illegal because the drink mixes fruit and grain-based alcohol, which some believe will affect you more than a drink with only grain or only fruit-based alcohol.

What Kind of Alcohol to Use

  • For the hard cider: I recommend using Citizen’s Cider. Their Unified Press and Lake Hopper are great for a Snakebite drink.
  • For the beer: In the US it is most common to use either a Stout instead of a Lager beer, or you can use the Blonde American Lager by Guinness.

How to Make It

Making a Snakebite Drink is ridiculously easy. All you need to do is get a 16-oz beer glass, chill it, then fill it halfway with cold hard cider. Top off the glass with cold lager beer. Thats it!

Want to Make Snakebite & Black?

If you add a splash of black currant cordial (affiliate link) to your beertail, then it becomes a “Snakebite & Black” drink.

Snakebite Drink next to a slice of twisted pizza

Serving Suggestions

This pub drink goes with just about anything! As I mentioned above, I rather like sipping on a cold Snakebite Drink with a side of fried green tomatoes. It would also go well with tortilla chips served with guacamole and salsa, or pita chips. A basket of fries would also be nice!

If you want to pair your beertail with something more substantial, then I recommend pizza! A big slice of twisted pizza, birria pizza, or sourdough crust pizza would be my top picks.

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Snakebite Drink

Want to feel like you’re enjoying a pint at an English pub? Try making a Snakebite Drink! This equal parts “beertail” is made with hard cider and lager beer.

  • Author: Rustic Family Recipes
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: English

Ingredients

  • 8 oz hard cider
  • 8 oz lager beer

Instructions

Fill a chilled 16oz beer glass halfway with hard cider. I recommend Citizen’s Cider.

Top off the glass with lager beer.

Serve!

Last Step:

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Keywords: snakebite cocktail, beertail, pub drinks

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