Getting to Know Universal – All The Butterbeer Options

Butterbeer is the drink that changed theme parks forever. Originally a throwaway drink in the Prisoner of Azkaban book, Butterbeer quickly became a fan obsession with dozens of fan recipes that attempted to emulate the flavor (if not the alcohol content). In 2010 the first canonical version of Butterbeer was released in Islands of Adventure with a light soda base similar to cream soda and a specially applied foam top that tastes of butterscotch. The drink was an instant hit, a must-try item when visiting the land that lines would wrap through the land to purchase it. It’s rumored that the profits in Butterbeer sales from the first year of operation paid for the new Harry Potter land. Since then Butterbeer has morphed into several new forms and options, including many that aren’t even liquid! In this article we will look at all the varieties of Butterbeer at Universal Orlando Resort and where to find them.

First, the basics. Butterbeer is a non-alcoholic beverage and dessert item sold at the Universal Orlando theme park Harry Potter lands. Butterbeer tastes not like butter nor is a beer, instead, the key tasting notes are butterscotch and vanilla. Butterbeer is only sold in the Harry Potter lands in the theme parks and Harry Potter outposts like the Harry Potter Store NYC and Harry Potter London Studio Tour.

⭐️ Cold Butterbeer (Original) Locations: All Dining Locations, Butterbeer Carts, & Bars

The OG, iconic, the moment, the one, the only – Butterbeer. Cold Butterbeer is a light cream soda base with a butterscotch flavored, non-dairy foam on top. The strikingly sweet drink’s flavor is cloying for some while others find it delightfully refreshing, I’m in the latter and enjoy it as a sweet treat. Cold Butterbeer isn’t served with a straw as stirring the topping and soda will cause a baking soda volcano-like chemical reaction causing the foam to expand.

Newly created Vegan Cold Butterbeer is the same as regular Butterbeer but opts for a new vegan-friendly soda and topping. Universal managed to keep the same Butterbeer taste but in a new form friendly to more guests. Vegan Butterbeer is found at The Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks.

⭐️ Frrozen Butterbeer (Original) Locations: All Dining Locations, Butterbeer Carts, & Bars

Take Cold Butterbeer, create a slushie out of the soda base, and we get Frozen Butterbeer. The base drink is less sweet than Cold Butterbeer but has the same foam topping. Most guests who don’t like Cold Butterbeer do like the Frozen variant making it a safe choice for the Butterbeer curious.

⭐️ Warm Butterbeer Locations: All Dining Locations & Bars

Warm Butterbeer is a butterscotch-tasting warm beverage, similar to a latte or hot chocolate. The base drink is warm but not too hot and tastes like a Worthers Original candy, while the topping is the OG Butterbeer foam. This is my favorite Butterbeer, it is not too sweet but doesn’t lack the Butterbeer flavor. Best to order this in the morning or during the winter months.

⭐️ Hard Packed Ice Cream Butterbeer Locations: Carts & Dining Locations

⭐️ Soft Serve Butterbeer Locations: Florean Fortescue’s, The Hopping Pot, Fountain of Fair Fortune

There are two types of Butterbeer ice cream. The first ice cream option was a hard-packed light cream flavored ice cream with a butterscotch flavored stripe drizzled on top but Universal took another swing at it with the superior soft serve Butterbeer ice cream in Diagon Alley. The base soft serve tastes like a light cream and a special device on the soft serve machine places a light ribbon of butterscotch flavoring on the edges of the dispensed soft serve.

⭐️ Potted Cream Butterbeer Locations: All Dining Locations

A light butterscotch cream with a vanilla topping served in a mason jar. Light and less sweet than other forms of Butterbeer, Potted Cream is a favorite of guests who find other Butterbeer options too sweet. Unfortunately, this version is only available at the Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks.

⭐️ Butterbeer Caramels, Fudge, & Gummies Locations: Honeydukes Candy Shop and Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop

Candies! Butterbeer flavored fudge and caramels are found in candy stores in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. New Butterbeer Gummies are sold at Honeyduke’s and come in a special Butterbeer cart-themed candy container. Butterbeer candies have a butterscotch flavor with an accent of vanilla, just like the original drink.

⭐️ Butterbeer Popsicle Locations: Hogsmeade Snack Cart and The Hopping Pot

Universal’s newest Butterbeer variant, the Butterbeer popsicle (or ice lolly if your a Brit) is a cream and butterscotch-flavored iced novelty with a flavor similar to Butterbeer soft serve ice cream. Our own Derek Burgan was not a fan of the flavor of the pop but appreciated the themed packaging.

What is your favorite variety of Butterbeer? Leave your thoughts in the comments!