Snakebite

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Snakebite

Type	Beer cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume	Beer
Served	Neat; undiluted and without ice
Standard drinkware	Pint glass
Commonly used ingredients	One part Beer One part Cider
Preparation	Mixed in equal volumes in a standard beer glass

Snakebite is a cocktail made from cider (the alcoholic drink known as hard cider in the United States) and lager beer. Frequently, a dash of blackcurrant cordial, "black", is added. In the United States the term has come to denote a beer cocktail comprising equal quantities of beer and cider. The drink is also known as a Poor Man's Black Velvet. A black velvet is a mixture of half Guinness, half champagne. In Southeast United States Snake Bites are made from Yukon Jack whiskey and lime juice.

Basic snakebite

The basic snakebite is a mixture of equal parts of lager and cider, typically served in pint or half-pint servings. Though it is often served mixed, some variants "float" the beer atop the cider in separate layers.

Some bars in the UK do not serve mixed snakebites and instead serve a half of lager, a half of cider, and an empty pint glass to mix. Pub mythology holds that they do this because snakebites are so dangerous to drink that the bar does not want to be held responsible. The truth is probably that bars in the UK serve snakebites in this manner because the Weights and Measures Act prohibits them from selling lager or cider other than in accurately measured half-pint increments. Another reason they may not, is that it makes a cloudy pint(like a poor pint of lager). However, many bars, particularly in student areas do serve snakebite.

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