Getting to Know All The Butterbeer Options & Locations

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 from Butterbeer sales in 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 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’s Harry Potter lands. It does not taste like butter or beer. Instead, the key tasting notes are butterscotch and vanilla. Butterbeer is only sold in the Harry Potter lands, which include theme parks and outposts like the Harry Potter Store NYC and the Harry Potter London Studio Tour.

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

The OG, iconic, the moment, the one, the only—Butterbeer. Cold Butterbeer has a light cream soda base and a butterscotch-flavored, non-dairy foam on top. Some find the strikingly sweet drink cloying, while others find it delightfully refreshing. I’m in the latter camp 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.

The 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 that is more friendly to more guests. Vegan Butterbeer is found at The Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks.

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

Take Cold Butterbeer, create a slushie out of the soda base, and 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 like the Frozen variant, making it a safe choice for the Butterbeer curious.

⭐️ Warm Butterbeer
Locations: Three Broomsticks, Hogshead Pub, Leaky Cauldron, Hopping Pot, Fountain of Fair Fortune

Warm Butterbeer is a warm, butterscotch-tasting beverage similar to a latte or hot chocolate. The base drink is warm but not too hot and tastes like 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. It is best to order this in the morning or during the winter months.

⭐️ Hard Packed Ice Cream Butterbeer
Locations: Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron, and quick service carts

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

There are two types of Butterbeer ice cream. The first option was a hard-packed light cream 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 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: Three Broomsticks & Leaky Cauldron

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

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

⭐️ Butterbeer Crepe
Locations: Café L’air De La Sirène

A decadent treat straight from the cafes of Paris is the Bierauberre Crêpè, aka the Butterbeer Crepe. It consists of shortbread cookie butter, Bavarian cream, Butterbeer cream, strawberries, a Butterbeer drizzle, and a Butterbeer shortbread cookie.

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