Fantastic Butterbeer & Where To Find It: The Definitive Guide to Universal’s Wizarding Brew

“Ron came back five minutes later, carrying three foaming tankards of hot butterbeer. ‘Merry Christmas!’ he said happily, raising his tankard.”

It’s me again, the Quibbler Creative Editor!

As I sit here writing, I’ve got a mug of homemade butterbeer beside me, and it’s got me thinking: aguamenti is the charm to create drinking water. . .surely there must be a spell to refill a glass of butterbeer?

I’ll have to go looking in the Hogwarts archives, but in the meantime, I’m here to help you find every place in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter that serves up this hearty brew! (I’ll even include my butterbeer DIY – one that’s suitable for you first years that aren’t allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts just yet.)

Butterscotch Bonanza

“Harry drank deeply. It was the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted and seemed to heat every bit of him from the inside.“

Butterbeer is by far the most popular drink of the Wizarding World. It’s so well-liked we try to consume it in just about every way possible: hot, cold, frozen. . .I recommend trying each butterbeer variant at least once! There’s six total. (And for the record, it’s not alcoholic, so younger Hogwarts students are free to partake!)

The overall flavor, regardless of form, is generally described as “less sickly butterscotch” and is somewhat reminiscent of the cream soda so enjoyed by muggles.¹ If you have a sweet tooth, then butterbeer will probably be right up your Diagon Alley!

Cold Butterbeer

Cold butterbeer is the closest to muggle cream soda and is widely considered the classic version. Served in a tankard or regular cup, this chilled, carbonated drink comes topped with a generous layer of yummy whipped cream. With its fizzy notes of butterscotch and shortbread, cold butterbeer is a great place to start your taste-testing journey. (It’s the one I come back to time and again!)

Hot Butterbeer

There’s nothing like Christmas at Hogwarts, and a cup of hot butterbeer helps capture that magical spirit. Akin to hot cocoa, hot butterbeer is creamy and steamy, but butterscotch flavored (of course)! Topped with foam and served in a paper cup that could pass for muggle to-go coffee (handy if you venture outside of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter), hot butterbeer is available all year round to warm you through and through.

Frozen Butterbeer

Although it’s usually rainy in London, I think some of the Orlando heat has started to seep through the portal – so frozen butterbeer is a must for those hot days! (Not to mention our wizarding robes are always just a little warm.) Served in a tankard or a cup, this is the only butterbeer you consume with a straw. This butterscotch slush is dolloped with tasty whip topping. Now I just need a spell to eliminate brain freeze. . .

Butterbeer Ice-Cream

Speaking of brain freeze, you can also get butterbeer ice cream! This soft-serve vanilla is beautifully swirled with butterscotch, and most witches and wizards agree that it should be sold by the gallon. Served in a cone or cup, this sweet treat is sure to leave you spellbound!

Butterbeer Fudge

Butterbeer fudge is a great way to take the butterbeer flavor back home with you after your year at Hogwarts. (It won’t readily melt or spill on the Hogwarts Express!) Made with a layer of shortbread and a layer of butterscotch, the fudgy flavors combine to create a decadent, solid butterbeer! The fudge is something you can share with your muggle friends, but you might have to obliviate them afterward. They’re sure to suspect it’s magic.

Butterbeer Potted Cream

The last, and perhaps most unique of the butterbeer, is the potted cream. Served in adorable small mason jars, this chilled dessert is thick and creamy – not quite as dense as pudding, but not quite as airy as muggle Cool Whip. Most wizards agree it is the least sweet of the six, so it’s a good one to try if you’re worried about your butterbeer experience being too sweet. (Or you could always just charm the others – “reducio sweetness!”)

Got Butterbeer?

“Three butterbeers, please,” said Hermione.
“Six sickles,” he said.
(An exchange between Hermione Granger and barkeeper of the Hog’s Head.)

Whose got butterbeer? Luckily for you, just about everyone! But not every shop has every kind, so I’ll make sure you know where to go to get your favorite version!

Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is lined with dozens of wacky, wonderful shops, and many of them are dealers in our favorite drink!

The Leaky Cauldron

The Leaky Cauldron is the slightly ramshackle but cozy pub in Diagon Alley. Along with lunch and breakfast, they also serve butterbeer cold, hot, or frozen, as well as butterbeer ice cream and butterbeer potted cream.

Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor

True to the shop name, Mr. Fortescue’s speciality is simply butterbeer ice cream! Yum!

The Fountain of Fair Fortune

You might recognize this shop name from The Tales of Beedle the Bard! While it’s no fountain of youth, it is a fountain of chilled butterbeer! Cold and frozen butterbeer is available here, as well as butterbeer ice cream. This is a great place to come and cool off!

The Hopping Pot

The Hopping Pot is a walkup counter where you can order all sorts of wizarding drinks, but we’re here for the butterbeer! They’ve got cold, hot, frozen, and butterbeer ice cream.

Sugarplum’s Sweetshop

As you might expect from Diagon Alley‘s candy store, Sugarplum’s is where you can get your hands on that rich butterbeer fudge.

Hogsmeade

Of course, Hogsmeade wouldn’t be much of a wizarding village without several sellers of this liquid libation, too!

Three Broomsticks

Like the Leaky Cauldron, the Three Broomsticks is a pub that offers breakfast and lunch in a worn but homey setting. They also have a wide variety of butterbeer, including hot, cold, frozen, ice cream, and potted cream!

The Hog’s Head Pub

Located in the back of the Three Broomsticks, the Hog’s Head is where you’ll meet all sorts of wizarding folk. Here they serve spirits (and we’re not talking the Nearly Headless Nick kind) in addition to butterbeer. The butterbeer comes cold, hot, or frozen.

Street Carts

A bit like the trolley witch of the Hogwarts express, there are a couple of street carts roaming through Hogsmeade to meet your on-the-go butterbeer needs! You can get cold, frozen, and hot butterbeer from these magical vendors.

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Butterbeer

“She had chosen to wear a necklace of butterbeer caps.”
(Harry Potter observing Luna Lovegood)

During those months when school’s out, and you’re away from Hogwarts, you might find yourself craving butterbeer. (I know I do!) So here’s a deliciously easy DIY recipe to help you achieve that magical taste whenever you get a craving. With only three ingredients, it’s quick and easy with minimal clean-up!

If you want to spice up the foam portion of the recipe, you can switch the butterscotch syrup (found next to the chocolate syrup in grocery stores) for 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. When you fold these ingredients in after whipping the cream, you get a really sharp, salty kick of butter that tastes great with the sweet cream soda!

And for the record, the butterscotch syrup can also be swapped for caramel syrup. While you’ll miss that signature butterscotch taste, it’s still super yummy in a pinch! (And I should know, that’s how I made mine today!)

Well, since I still haven’t found a butterbeer refill spell, I’m off to mix another cup! I’ll leave you first years with these wise wizarding words: “Nitwit! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak!”

Cover Image

Photo: HarshLight via Flickr

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