Our Story

The adventure began, as many do, with our heroes toiling at their crafts with no knowledge of the other’s existence. Sean Harris founded Serpentine Cider in 2016. He started making cider as a solution to a problem: a former girlfriend was gluten-intolerant and hated the sickly sweet, high-sugar options of typical cider. In an act that puts all other boyfriends to shame, Sean set out to solve the problem by learning how to make cider. A biologist by trade, and a mad scientist at heart he got to work perfecting his recipes. While the relationship didn’t last, his passion for cider did and he opened his cidery and tasting room in the Miralani Makers District of San Diego in October of 2017. Sean’s specialty is creating interesting and well-balanced ciders with low-to-no sugar using fresh-pressed apples from the Pacific Northwest and other seasonal fruit, herbs and spices. Low sugar, high ABV and absolutely delicious, Serpentine Cider is for people who don’t like cider!

While Sean was evolving his cider skills, in a land not so far away, Jeremy George was learning to harness the culinary power of smoke. He fell in love with BBQ during his time at school in St. Louis, and was on a mission to bring more delicious slow-smoked options to San Diego. Jeremy founded Smokin J’s BBQ in 2017 and began dragging his smoker around town slinging smoked meats to those who would have them. As his skills improved, so did his business. Despite multiple evictions because of his California-oak-burning smoker, Jeremy grew from a mobile meat peddler to the owner of multiple brick-and-mortar BBQ joints serving succulent barbecue favorites like slow-smoked brisket, burnt ends, and pulled pork.  Never one to skimp on the details, Jeremy also created an array of delectable sides all made from scratch.

Our heroes met on a fateful autumn day in 2022, when both were looking to solve another problem. Sean had a vacant kitchen in his tasting room, and Jeremy was in need of an opportunity to expand. A meeting was set over food and drink.  The stars aligned, and our heroes' paths slowly began to merge. Smokin J’s BBQ took over the vacant kitchen in the cidery, but operated as a separate entity.  Eventually the pair decided to combine their powers and join forces to create Serpentine Cider & Smokehouse.

Our two heroes, masters of their crafts, united to bring you mouth-watering meals, thirst quenching beverages, and conquer the landscape of the San Diego cider and bbq scene.