Le Serpent Cerise | Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
Brewed by:
Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
Wyoming, United States
snakeriverbrewing.com
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.)
Added by Bitterbill on 08-10-2011
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 32 | Reviews: 10
4.1/5 rDev -3.3%
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.
948 characters
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.
948 characters
4.22/5 rDev -0.5%
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.
778 characters
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.
778 characters
4/5 rDev -5.7%
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.
707 characters
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.
707 characters
4.22/5 rDev -0.5%
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.
1,232 characters
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.
1,232 characters
3.85/5 rDev -9.2%
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.
525 characters
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.
525 characters
Le Serpent Cerise from Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
4.24
out of 5
based on 32 ratings.
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
349 characters