Snake Bite (Australian Pub Classic)
The Snake Bite is Australia’s first-year-of-uni drink – half cider, half lager, served in a schooner glass. Cheap, refreshing, and surprisingly drinkable when built with the right ratios. This is the at-home version every Aussie should know.
Ingredients
- 200ml chilled lager (Carlton Draught, VB, or a clean European-style lager)
- 200ml chilled dry cider (Strongbow Original or 5 Seeds)
- Optional: a splash of blackcurrant cordial (turns it into a “Snake Bite & Black” – the variant)
Glass: A 425ml schooner glass. Pint glasses work too but the schooner is the Aussie pub standard.
Method
- Chill the schooner glass in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Pour the lager first, slowly down the side of the glass, filling to about halfway.
- Tilt the glass and pour the cider down the side on top. Pouring lager first stops the cider from foaming over.
- For “Snake Bite & Black”: add 10ml of blackcurrant cordial last. It sinks through the drink and tints it purple-red.
- Drink immediately. The Snake Bite doesn’t keep – the two carbonated drinks fight each other and go flat fast.
Why it’s a Snake Bite
British pubs in the 1980s coined the name – the drink “bites” you on the way down because the cider’s acidity hits before the lager’s smoothness. It crossed to Australia in the 90s and became the standard first-cheap-pub-round drink, especially at university bars.
The “Snake Bite & Black” variant adds blackcurrant cordial (or Ribena in the UK). Australia’s version traditionally uses Cottee’s blackcurrant cordial.
The technique
Lager first, always. Pouring cider first and topping with lager makes the lager foam over the rim. The lager’s lower carbonation lets the cider sit on top cleanly.
Same temperature. Both bottles from the same fridge. Mixing fridge-cold lager with room-temp cider makes the cider foam violently.
Pour at a tilt. Glass tilted to 45 degrees, pour down the side. This is fundamental pub craft – straight-down pours into the middle make either drink foam excessively.
Brand picks
Lager: Carlton Draught is the canonical Aussie pub Snake Bite lager. VB works but is heavier. International alternatives: Heineken, Becks, or Stella Artois. Avoid craft IPAs – the hop bitterness clashes with cider sweetness.
Cider: Strongbow Original Dry is the long-standing pub standard. 5 Seeds (Foster’s) is sweeter and produces a softer Snake Bite. Magners Original is the imported alternative. Avoid premium craft ciders – they’re wasted in a mixed format.
Blackcurrant cordial (for Snake Bite & Black): Cottee’s Blackcurrant Cordial in Australia, Ribena in the UK. Skip blackcurrant juice – it’s not the same texture.
Variations
Snake Bite & Black: Add 10ml blackcurrant cordial. The Australian/UK pub standard upgrade. Turns the drink purple-red and adds berry sweetness.
Diesel: Add a shot of cola (15ml) instead of blackcurrant. Tasted at some Northern English pubs, niche in Australia.
Wakey Snake Bite: Use a strong cider (Strongbow Dark Fruit or Bulmers Original) instead of dry. Sweeter, heavier, popular at Sydney pubs.
Snake Bite Sour: Cocktail-bar evolution. Combine cider, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker, dry shake with egg white, strain into a coupe. Looks nothing like the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Snake Bite still banned in some UK pubs?
The Snake Bite was infamously banned by some British pubs in the 1980s and 1990s because of pub fights linked to the drink’s strong, cheap profile. Most pubs have since reversed this, but a few traditional pubs in the UK still refuse to serve it. The ban never extended to Australia.
What’s the alcohol content of a Snake Bite?
About 4.5-5 percent ABV – similar to a single pint of lager or cider. Lager (4-5 percent) + cider (4.5-5 percent) mixed 50/50 averages out to roughly 4.7 percent. Not stronger than its parts, despite the reputation.
Why is it called a Snake Bite?
The British pub origin story is that the cider’s sharp acidity “bites” you on the swallow, like a snake. The visual pun (carbonation hissing on pour) is sometimes credited too. The name spread from UK pubs to Australian university bars in the 1990s.
Is there a non-alcoholic Snake Bite?
Yes – mix Heineken 0.0 (non-alcoholic lager) with Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime 0.0 (non-alcoholic cider) 50/50 in a schooner. Tastes 90% like the real thing.
What’s the right ratio of lager to cider?
50/50 is the Aussie pub standard – half schooner of lager, half schooner of cider. Some UK pubs do 60/40 lager-heavy for a softer drink. 50/50 in a 425ml schooner gives you 200ml of each, which is the proper home pour.
More Like This
Other Australian pub classics: Spider, Long Tan Cocktail, Maradona Spritz. For more beer-based mixes, see our Beer Cocktails collection.
