Le Serpent Cerise
Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Sour - Flanders Oud Bruin
Ranked #18 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #4,708 - Avg:
- 4.3 | pDev: 7.91%
- Reviews:
- 10
- Ratings:
- From:
- Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
- Wyoming, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 57
- Gots
- 8
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Notes:
Cory’s endeavor into the realm of Flanders style sour ale. Extremely rare, inoculated with multiple souring organisms and laid down in French oak barrels for over one year, Le Serpent is an example of a Belgian sour brown at it’s finest. On draft in the pub for a short time and also hand-bottled and bottle-conditioned. There is a very limited quantity of 750 ml bottles available for take away. Act quickly to experience this exotic beer style! (for spring 2010, Washington cherries have been macerating in Serpent Cerise for one year.)
Reviews: 10
| Ratings: 33
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JohnGalt1 from Idaho
4.45/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Slightly hazy amber red... long lasting white head... Great cherry flavor with mild acetic notes... woody oak.. lightly tannic and hints of currants... body is a touch thicker than some lower abv Flanders, but still within style.. good carbonation. Pretty stunning example of a style that seemingly isn't being made much anymore.
4/4.5/4.5/4.25/4.5
Nov 10, 2015
4.45/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Slightly hazy amber red... long lasting white head... Great cherry flavor with mild acetic notes... woody oak.. lightly tannic and hints of currants... body is a touch thicker than some lower abv Flanders, but still within style.. good carbonation. Pretty stunning example of a style that seemingly isn't being made much anymore.
4/4.5/4.5/4.25/4.5
Nov 10, 2015
MasterSki from Canada
4.1/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Sean for sharing this rarity; just in time for the end of the world! Served in a Russian River tulip.
A - White foam settles to a thick collar, wisps, and spotty lacing. The body is a hazed golden brown color.
S - Lots of cherry, unsurprisingly, with notes of vanilla, oak, lactic acidity, and a touch of cherry vinegar. There's some tart cherry skin amid the more prominent sweet cherry flesh.
T - Reminds me of cherry-flavored candy (Sweet Tarts?), with notes of vanilla and oak, mild lactic acidity, moderate acetic vinegary notes, and minimal alcohol. Good balance, with no particular flavor overwhelming.
M - Smooth medium body, dry finish, pleasant carbonation, and moderate-to-low pucker and acidity.
D - A solid cherry sour brown that I enjoyed a fair bit. Well-crafted with a solid integration of flavors. I'd happily drink this again, although I probably wouldn't actively try to trade for it considering the rarity factor.
Dec 30, 2012
4.1/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Sean for sharing this rarity; just in time for the end of the world! Served in a Russian River tulip.
A - White foam settles to a thick collar, wisps, and spotty lacing. The body is a hazed golden brown color.
S - Lots of cherry, unsurprisingly, with notes of vanilla, oak, lactic acidity, and a touch of cherry vinegar. There's some tart cherry skin amid the more prominent sweet cherry flesh.
T - Reminds me of cherry-flavored candy (Sweet Tarts?), with notes of vanilla and oak, mild lactic acidity, moderate acetic vinegary notes, and minimal alcohol. Good balance, with no particular flavor overwhelming.
M - Smooth medium body, dry finish, pleasant carbonation, and moderate-to-low pucker and acidity.
D - A solid cherry sour brown that I enjoyed a fair bit. Well-crafted with a solid integration of flavors. I'd happily drink this again, although I probably wouldn't actively try to trade for it considering the rarity factor.
Dec 30, 2012
aasher from Indiana
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Courtesy of muskabeatz at a tasting, thanks Evan!
This beer pours a light to medium bodied cherry polished wood in color with slight lacing around the glass. The nose features a really nice amount of tart cherries to pair with dark malt and a nice acidic tartness. The nose is great for the style, pungent. The flavors are off dry and well balanced. You get slightly sweet cherry, tart cherry, sweet brown malts, and and an acetic acidity. The vinegar however is tame, just the way that I would prefer. It has a nice bite too, from the carbonation more than anything. This drinks very, very well. It is more complex than you would imagine and the cherry really does separate itself from the the base sour brown. Overall this is a really nice beer, and a standout for the style.
Sep 22, 2012
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Courtesy of muskabeatz at a tasting, thanks Evan!
This beer pours a light to medium bodied cherry polished wood in color with slight lacing around the glass. The nose features a really nice amount of tart cherries to pair with dark malt and a nice acidic tartness. The nose is great for the style, pungent. The flavors are off dry and well balanced. You get slightly sweet cherry, tart cherry, sweet brown malts, and and an acetic acidity. The vinegar however is tame, just the way that I would prefer. It has a nice bite too, from the carbonation more than anything. This drinks very, very well. It is more complex than you would imagine and the cherry really does separate itself from the the base sour brown. Overall this is a really nice beer, and a standout for the style.
Sep 22, 2012
HopHead84 from California
4/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
5/2/2012
Silver medal winner at World Beer Cup 2012 in Category 23: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer (42 Entries).
A: Dark maroon with a light pink head.
S: Pronounced cherry with evident vinegar. Reminds me of cherry pie. There's a touch of vanilla with leather, earth, and more vinegar.
T: Tart up front with a burst of ripe cherries and a firm vinegar presence. The fruit is explosive and delicious. Light vanilla notes blend with oak and leather. The finish has an upper moderate acetic acidity.
M: Lower medium body with upper medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is sticky, dry, and lightly tannic.
Overall: Glad to finally try this. The fruit is very nice, but I think I prefer the regular version.
May 07, 2012
4/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
5/2/2012
Silver medal winner at World Beer Cup 2012 in Category 23: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer (42 Entries).
A: Dark maroon with a light pink head.
S: Pronounced cherry with evident vinegar. Reminds me of cherry pie. There's a touch of vanilla with leather, earth, and more vinegar.
T: Tart up front with a burst of ripe cherries and a firm vinegar presence. The fruit is explosive and delicious. Light vanilla notes blend with oak and leather. The finish has an upper moderate acetic acidity.
M: Lower medium body with upper medium carbonation. The mouthfeel is sticky, dry, and lightly tannic.
Overall: Glad to finally try this. The fruit is very nice, but I think I prefer the regular version.
May 07, 2012
FosterJM from California
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
995th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
750 ML
Bottle 59
Bottled 2010 (I think)
Thanks to GuruDel for sharing
*Shared by those at MrHirschybars*
App- A little bit of a murky cherry juice red with some browns, gold and ambers mixed into it. The head wasn’t very much but a few couples fell to a ring around the edges, no cling or lace either.
Smell- I think everything inside my nose burned on Saturday night. This was very sweet, tingly, bubbly, oaky, earthy and just plain inviting.
Taste- Vince and I talked about him bring certain bottles and agreed he needed to bring this gem to the party. This was a hidden gem he traded for when he wanted more sours and he just couldn’t not have it. Such a great Flanders. Oaky, malty, tart, bitter, sweet and barrel all rolled into one. I'm really at a loss to describe the taste of this one. If you don't like Cherries, you wont like this one.
Mouth- I really liked how this was a bit thicker and smoother on the finish. A medium body with a medium carbonation level. Lots of residual dampness and sour cherries.
Drink- Simply put. Vince you ruled for bringing this bottle. I would like another bottle however don’t know if it would work out in the trade game. Great beer though.
Dec 19, 2011
4.22/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
995th Review on BA
Bottle to Snifter
750 ML
Bottle 59
Bottled 2010 (I think)
Thanks to GuruDel for sharing
*Shared by those at MrHirschybars*
App- A little bit of a murky cherry juice red with some browns, gold and ambers mixed into it. The head wasn’t very much but a few couples fell to a ring around the edges, no cling or lace either.
Smell- I think everything inside my nose burned on Saturday night. This was very sweet, tingly, bubbly, oaky, earthy and just plain inviting.
Taste- Vince and I talked about him bring certain bottles and agreed he needed to bring this gem to the party. This was a hidden gem he traded for when he wanted more sours and he just couldn’t not have it. Such a great Flanders. Oaky, malty, tart, bitter, sweet and barrel all rolled into one. I'm really at a loss to describe the taste of this one. If you don't like Cherries, you wont like this one.
Mouth- I really liked how this was a bit thicker and smoother on the finish. A medium body with a medium carbonation level. Lots of residual dampness and sour cherries.
Drink- Simply put. Vince you ruled for bringing this bottle. I would like another bottle however don’t know if it would work out in the trade game. Great beer though.
Dec 19, 2011
mothman from Minnesota
3.85/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
bottle 61 year 2009
Pours a light beige head. Color is a golden amber orange.
Aroma: Very sweet cherries. Cherry pie filling. A little tartness. Brett funk. A little medicinal flavors. Oaky with vanilla and caramel.
Taste: Really sour and taste. A lot of cherry flavors. Some spices and caramel. Mouth puckering sour.
Mouthfeel: Sour and tart. Lighter bodied. A little lower carbonation. Ends clean.
Overall, this was tasty beer. Really drinkable. Better than the regular version. I liked the cherries and the tartness.
Dec 14, 2011
3.85/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
bottle 61 year 2009
Pours a light beige head. Color is a golden amber orange.
Aroma: Very sweet cherries. Cherry pie filling. A little tartness. Brett funk. A little medicinal flavors. Oaky with vanilla and caramel.
Taste: Really sour and taste. A lot of cherry flavors. Some spices and caramel. Mouth puckering sour.
Mouthfeel: Sour and tart. Lighter bodied. A little lower carbonation. Ends clean.
Overall, this was tasty beer. Really drinkable. Better than the regular version. I liked the cherries and the tartness.
Dec 14, 2011
woosterbill from Kentucky
4.24/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle into a Weyerbacher tulip. Huge thanks to the generous soul who shared this at CdC.
A: Cloudy brownish-amber body with a wispy off-white head. Spotty lace. Ok.
S: Sharply sour cherry, lemony acidity, vinous oak, and grassiness. Awesome.
T: Super sour, delightfully fruity, and generally awesome. Simple, terrific sour.
M: Slick medium body; almost flat. A little weak.
O: I drank this right after sampling 08 Earthmonk, and the contrast between these two beers of the same style could hardly have been more stark. While the actual Belgian was all about fruit flavor and balance, this American interpretation was focused entirely on the acidity and funk. I loved them both.
Cheers!
Dec 11, 2011
4.24/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle into a Weyerbacher tulip. Huge thanks to the generous soul who shared this at CdC.
A: Cloudy brownish-amber body with a wispy off-white head. Spotty lace. Ok.
S: Sharply sour cherry, lemony acidity, vinous oak, and grassiness. Awesome.
T: Super sour, delightfully fruity, and generally awesome. Simple, terrific sour.
M: Slick medium body; almost flat. A little weak.
O: I drank this right after sampling 08 Earthmonk, and the contrast between these two beers of the same style could hardly have been more stark. While the actual Belgian was all about fruit flavor and balance, this American interpretation was focused entirely on the acidity and funk. I loved them both.
Cheers!
Dec 11, 2011
Bitterbill from Wyoming
4.84/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
2009, 750ml capped bottle thanks to forgetfu. Thanks Bill!
It pours a murky colour of rust with about an inch of off white foam that leaves some decent lacing.
The smell I got as soon as the cap came off. Oodles and oodles of sour cherries, vinegar, oak, some fruity sweetness in the way background. Oh boy, this smells great.
The taste stands toe to toe with the smell. All sorts of sourness going on from the Washington cherries with vinegar notes that compliment rather than detract. It has oak there in mild proportions and a suggestion of Brett. Wow. Dammit, this is super delicious!
Light bodied, medium light carbonation, good mouthfeel and is very easy to drink.
Snake River..you've done yourself proud!
Nov 13, 2011
4.84/5 rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
2009, 750ml capped bottle thanks to forgetfu. Thanks Bill!
It pours a murky colour of rust with about an inch of off white foam that leaves some decent lacing.
The smell I got as soon as the cap came off. Oodles and oodles of sour cherries, vinegar, oak, some fruity sweetness in the way background. Oh boy, this smells great.
The taste stands toe to toe with the smell. All sorts of sourness going on from the Washington cherries with vinegar notes that compliment rather than detract. It has oak there in mild proportions and a suggestion of Brett. Wow. Dammit, this is super delicious!
Light bodied, medium light carbonation, good mouthfeel and is very easy to drink.
Snake River..you've done yourself proud!
Nov 13, 2011
AleWatcher from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
shared at darkness day by lurchingbeast
reviewed from notes
orange blush color. No head to speak of.
Wow is that sour. Huge sourness. Like pulling my tongue down my throat sour. Fuck me that's intense. Huge notes of dark and sour cherries. A touch of oak.
Really pretty nice.
Feels a hair overcarbed.
Overall, this was a fun beer to try-- and I'm glad Frank made me take a pour.
Nov 05, 2011
4.04/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
shared at darkness day by lurchingbeast
reviewed from notes
orange blush color. No head to speak of.
Wow is that sour. Huge sourness. Like pulling my tongue down my throat sour. Fuck me that's intense. Huge notes of dark and sour cherries. A touch of oak.
Really pretty nice.
Feels a hair overcarbed.
Overall, this was a fun beer to try-- and I'm glad Frank made me take a pour.
Nov 05, 2011
womencantsail from California
4/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks for sharing this, Bobby.
A: The beer looks pretty much like the regular version. Dark, hazy amber with a tall off-white head.
S: Not surprisingly, it smells like cherries. Quite musty with a lot of oak, grass, and straw. Not quite as fruity as the regular, but there is a nice grape and lemon zest note to it. Moderate level of vinegar with a touch of leather.
T: A restrained vinegar component and quite a nice bit of lactic acidity. Plenty of cherry flavor with some nice lemon and sour plums. Still a little bit of funk and even a touch of sherry.
M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.
O: This was good, but I liked the regular one better. It was a lot more complex and more pleasant to drink.
Sep 01, 2011
4/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks for sharing this, Bobby.
A: The beer looks pretty much like the regular version. Dark, hazy amber with a tall off-white head.
S: Not surprisingly, it smells like cherries. Quite musty with a lot of oak, grass, and straw. Not quite as fruity as the regular, but there is a nice grape and lemon zest note to it. Moderate level of vinegar with a touch of leather.
T: A restrained vinegar component and quite a nice bit of lactic acidity. Plenty of cherry flavor with some nice lemon and sour plums. Still a little bit of funk and even a touch of sherry.
M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.
O: This was good, but I liked the regular one better. It was a lot more complex and more pleasant to drink.
Sep 01, 2011
Le Serpent Cerise from Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
33 ratings
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