Fans of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series know butter beer as a delicious wizard drink that’s like something like butterscotch. But until The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort made it a reality, butterbeer was confined to the beloved books and movies. Since it was first introduced, this perennially popular beverage has gone on to become a culinary revolution in its own right. It is, hands down, one of Universal Orlando’s bestselling items. Butter beer alone helped Universal recoup within six months the $260 million investment in the Hogsmeade pavilion at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
So, it goes without saying that a trip to Universal Orlando is incomplete without sampling butter beer. If you’re the kind of person who likes to be prepared with all the practical considerations before your trip, you’re probably wondering: Where are butter beer locations at Universal Orlando?
Butterbeer is available at locations throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. The popular treat is sold in various forms, both hot and cold, in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Universal Orlando also sells special variations of butterbeer at exclusive locations during the holiday season.
Interestingly, no single location at Universal Orlando sells all the various types of butter beer. Keep reading to find out the best places to find butter beer at Universal Orlando. Knowing exactly what you want and where to find it will save you a great deal of time and frustration.
What is butter beer?
Butter beer is a fictitious drink that author J. K. Rowling invented. It is heavily referenced throughout the Harry Potter books. Some people believe it is based on the buttered beer that people drank in the 16th century, but the author simply describes it as a little “less sickly” than butterscotch.
For the most part, butter beer is a hybrid of butterscotch flavors and cream soda. It’s a sweet beverage, some would say too sweet. Butter beer usually comes with a frothy topping in place. Yes, that’s where all the fun mustache photos you see on social media come from.
You can do more than just drink butterbeer
When it was first introduced in 2010, butter beer came in two forms, frozen and cold. Cold butter beer is almost like a cream soda, complete with fizz and whipped topping. Frozen butter beer is like a slushie that’s particularly refreshing in the Florida heat.
In 2014, Universal experimented with a hot butter beer, which continues to be offered seasonally every year in the winter months. The hot version of butter beer is described by fans as a butterscotch-flavored hot chocolate. Later the same year, another variant of butter beer appeared on menus throughout Universal Orlando, the butter beer soft serve ice cream, which was an instant bestseller.
Other scrumptious butterbeer products like fudge and potted cream were introduced in the following years, going on to become must-have desserts at Universal Orlando. Butter beer fudge is one of the most popular souvenirs that people take home from the park.
Where are butter beer locations at Universal Orlando?
Coming to the most important question – where to find butter beer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Here are the best places to find butter beer at Universal Orlando.
- The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade
- The Hog’s Head Pub in Hogsmeade
- Honeydukes in Hogsmeade
- Street carts in Hogsmeade
- The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley
- Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley
- The Fountain of Fair Fortune in Diagon Alley
- The Hopping Pot in Diagon Alley
- Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop in Diagon Alley
If you know exactly the type of butter beer you want, here’s where to find it:
Cold Butterbeer & Frozen Butterbeer
- Three Broomsticks (Hogsmeade)
- The Hog’s Head Pub (Hogsmeade)
- Street carts (Hogsmeade)
- The Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley)
- The Fountain of Fair Fortune (Diagon Alley)
- The Hopping Pot (Diagon Alley)
Hot Butterbeer (holiday season)
- Three Broomsticks (Hogsmeade)
- The Hog’s Head Pub (Hogsmeade)
- Street carts (Hogsmeade)
- The Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley)
- The Hopping Pot (Diagon Alley)
Butterbeer ice cream
- Three Broomsticks (Hogsmeade)
- The Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley)
- The Hopping Pot (Diagon Alley)
- The Fountain of Fair Fortune (Diagon Alley)
- Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlor (Diagon Alley)
Butterbeer fudge
- Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop (Diagon Alley)
- Honeydukes (Hogsmeade)
Butterbeer potted cream
- Three Broomsticks (Hogsmeade)
- The Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley)
Is there alcohol in butter beer at Universal Orlando?
In the Harry Potter books, butterbeer is a creamy brew with a hint of alcohol. The house-elves are known to become intoxicated on butter beer, but the beverage has negligible effects on wizards and witches.
At Universal Orlando, however, despite the name, butter beer is completely alcohol-free. So, you can let your kids drink as much of the foam-topped butterscotch-flavored soft drink as you want. Just be prepared for the sugar rush.
How much does butterbeer cost at Universal Orlando?
Butter beer is a gastronomical giant and it would be naïve to expect that Universal Orlando will not make the most of this money spinner’s popularity. This popular beverage is an easy way for the company to make profits without investing in new rides and attractions. The cost of butter beer reflects this.
The prices of butter beer at Universal Orlando have risen, sometimes steeply, over the years. When it was first introduced more than a decade ago, cold butter beer at Universal Orlando cost $2.99. Now, you’ll have to cough up anywhere from $3.95 for butter beer fudge to $12 for a cold butter beer in a souvenir mug. Prices can change anytime, but at the time of going to press, cold, frozen, and hot butter beer costs $7.50, butter beer ice cream is $5.49, butter beer potted cream is $5.29, and butter beer fudge is $3.95.
Butter beer is one of the foods and drinks you must try at Universal Orlando. You’ll have to dig into your pockets, no doubt, but it’s perfect for a hot day, and we can promise you it will be as delicious as you imagined.
Can I make butter beer at home?
If you fancy making your favorite beverage from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at home, here’s a simple butter beer recipe. We can’t promise you’ll be able to crack the recipe used at Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, but you can get pretty close to the real thing.
Mix equal quantities of cream soda and soda water. Add butterscotch syrup to taste and put the mixture in a glass or mug. Top with whipped cream with a pinch of salt to cut through the sweetness. Finish with a drizzle of caramel syrup. Adults, if you want a little kick to your butter beer, you can add a splash of rum.
Warner Bros. sells bottled butter beer in souvenir glass bottles with a collectible label. But unfortunately, they’re only available in the UK. If you’re in London or transiting through London airports, do check out the Platform 9 ¾ Shops and pick up a bottle or two. It’s the perfect gift for aspiring witches and wizards in your family.
In the world of Harry Potter, cold butter beer comes in bottles and hot butter beer comes in foaming tankards. At Universal Orlando, you can have butter beer as ice cream, a slushy, and fudge as well. And now that you know the best places to find butter beer in Universal Orlando, you won’t have to waste an extra minute finding your favorite drink.