Snake Bite Black

The Snake Bite Black is a no-frills pub classic, a full pint blend of lager, cider, and blackcurrant. It is a quick, easy pour designed for volume and a fast buzz, not subtle nuances. You will find it ordered by patrons looking for something a bit different than a straight beer or cider, often in high-energy, casual settings where speed and effect trump complexity.

Snake Bite Black

4.64 from 19 votes

Calories: 52kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 0.5 Pint(s) Larger Beer
▢ 0.5 Part(s) Cider Beer
▢ 2 Splash(s) Blackcurrant Soda

Instructions

▢
Pour 0.5 pint Lager and 0.5 pint Cider into a Pilsner glass. then add Black Currant until drink is purple in color.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 52kcal (3%)Carbohydrates: 5g (2%)Sugar: 4g (4%)

Where it came from

This concoction is a staple of British pub culture, likely emerging in the late 20th century as a popular student drink. Its exact origin is hazy, but it gained traction in bars catering to a younger crowd seeking a potent, yet easy-drinking, pint.

Sitting firmly in the beer cocktail family, the Snake Bite Black shares a lineage with simple mixes like the Shandy, a beer and lemonade blend, or even a Black and Tan which layers stout and pale ale. What sets the Snake Bite Black apart is the specific combination of crisp lager, tart cider, and the fruity sweetness of blackcurrant, creating a unique profile.

You would typically find or serve a Snake Bite Black in a bustling pub, a student bar, or at a casual backyard barbecue. It is a high volume, low fuss drink, not something you would expect to see on the menu of a craft cocktail lounge or a sophisticated speakeasy.

What it tastes like

On the palate, the Snake Bite Black hits with an initial wave of sweet, dark fruit from the blackcurrant, quickly followed by the crisp, malty notes of the lager. The mid palate introduces the tart, green apple character of the cider, which cuts through some of the initial sweetness. The finish is a blend of residual fruit and a lingering, slightly bitter beer note, leaving a relatively clean but sweet impression.

Given its half-pint lager and half-pint cider base, a Snake Bite Black typically lands around 4.5% to 5% ABV, similar to a standard strong beer. However, you are drinking a full pint of it. This makes it a deceptively easy-drinking option that can catch up to you faster than a single spirit-forward cocktail, which often has a higher ABV but is consumed in smaller volumes.

The technique

Building a Snake Bite Black is straightforward. Start with a chilled Pilsner or standard pint glass. Pour in your half-pint of lager, then follow with your half-pint of cider. The key is to pour gently to minimize foam. Finally, add the blackcurrant soda, aiming for a consistent purple hue throughout the drink.

The most crucial technique here is to pour the beer and cider gently down the side of the glass. Rushing it or pouring directly into the middle will create excessive head, reducing the amount of liquid you can fit in the glass and quickly dissipating the carbonation. A slow, steady pour preserves the fizz and ensures you get a full, properly mixed pint.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Lager Beer

Use: Any standard, light-bodied pale lager works well, like a Budweiser, Stella Artois, or Carlsberg. Look for something crisp and relatively neutral to let the other flavors shine.
Skip: Avoid dark lagers, IPAs, or stouts. Their robust flavors and heavier body would overpower the cider and blackcurrant, resulting in a muddy, unbalanced drink.
Why: The lager provides the primary beer base, essential carbonation, and a neutral canvas that allows the tartness of the cider and the sweetness of the blackcurrant to come through clearly.

Cider Beer

Use: A dry or semi-dry apple cider is ideal, such as Strongbow, Magners, or Bulmers. These offer a good balance of apple flavor and tartness without being overly sweet.
Skip: Steer clear of overly sweet ciders or those with strong fruit infusions like pear or berry. They can clash with the blackcurrant soda or make the entire drink cloying.
Why: Cider introduces a crucial tart, apple fruitiness and another layer of carbonation. It cuts through the sweetness of the blackcurrant and adds complexity to the beer base, preventing the drink from being one-dimensional.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Snakebite

The original, without the blackcurrant.: This is simply a half-pint of lager mixed with a half-pint of cider. It offers a drier, less sweet profile than the blackcurrant version.

Diesel

A more potent blackcurrant kick.: Instead of blackcurrant soda, a Diesel uses a shot or two of blackcurrant cordial or syrup, often layered on top, giving a stronger, sweeter blackcurrant flavor and a more distinct color separation.

Poor Man’s Black Velvet

A darker, richer beer cocktail.: This variation swaps the lager for a dark stout, like Guinness, mixed with the cider and blackcurrant. It results in a heavier, roastier, and often more bitter drink.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Larger Beer?

A light ale or a very mild pale ale can work in a pinch, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.

No Cider Beer?

A dry white wine or even a sparkling wine can substitute for the cider, but you will lose some of the apple tartness and carbonation.

No Blackcurrant Soda?

Blackcurrant cordial or syrup mixed with a splash of soda water will achieve a similar flavor and color. Grenadine is a distant alternative for color and sweetness, but the flavor will be different.

No Pilsner glass?

Any standard pint glass or a tall, straight-sided glass will work just fine for this pour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Snake Bite Black?

A Snake Bite Black is made with half a pint of lager beer, half a pint of cider beer, and a splash of blackcurrant soda for color and sweetness.

Is Snake Bite Black strong?

It is typically around 4.5% to 5% ABV, similar to a standard beer. However, it is served in a full pint, so it can be deceptively easy to drink and accumulate faster than you might expect.

Why is it called Snake Bite Black?

The ‘Snake Bite’ part likely refers to the combination of lager and cider, suggesting a drink with a bit of a kick. The ‘Black’ suffix comes from the addition of blackcurrant, which gives the drink its characteristic dark purple color.

Is Snake Bite Black a real drink?

Absolutely, it is a well-known and common pub drink, particularly popular in the UK and in bars with a casual, high-volume atmosphere.

How do you make a Snake Bite Black?

You pour half a pint of lager and half a pint of cider into a Pilsner glass, then add blackcurrant soda until the drink achieves a purple color.

What does Snake Bite Black taste like?

It tastes like a blend of crisp beer and tart apple cider, with a prominent sweet and fruity blackcurrant flavor upfront that mellows into a balanced, refreshing finish.

Can you get drunk on Snake Bite Black?

Yes, as it is a full pint of an alcoholic beverage with a similar ABV to beer, consuming multiple Snake Bite Blacks can certainly lead to intoxication.

What’s the difference between Snake Bite and Snake Bite Black?

The core ‘Snake Bite’ is just the mix of lager and cider. The ‘Black’ refers specifically to the addition of blackcurrant, which gives it a distinct color and sweeter, fruitier flavor.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read