Vote of the Week: Warm Butterbeer at Universal Orlando?

January 24, 2014, 8:50 AM · Universal Orlando this morning announced that it is serving warm Butterbeer to selected guests.

Warm Butterbeer? Let's go to the meme:

We've got Leo's attention

Warm Butterbeer might be more authentic to the United Kingdom, as many popular English and Irish beers are served warm, or, at least, room temperature. But the weather in Orlando more often than not calls for cold, even frozen, drinks.

We've not yet heard from anyone fortunate to try one of the warm Butterbeer samples this morning. (If you did, we'd love a photo and your thoughts, via themeparkinsider@gmail.com!) While we await feedback, let's put this new idea to a vote:


As always, thank you for being part of the Theme Park Insider community. And one more reminder, please take a look at our new and improved Discussion Forum, which we opened this week. Thanks again.

Update: Theme Park Insider reader Rob T. sent along some photos of the warm butterbeer.

Warm butterbeer

"We're at USF's Harry Potter Celebration and had a chance to sample the warm Butterbeer this morning. While the topping is identical to the cold versions, the liquid is a milky color with a creamy consistency like hot chocolate. It has a very strong and sweet butterscotch flavor similar to the cold versions. Verdict: yummy if you really like sweet drinks."

Drinking warm butterbeer

"The warm butterbeer is only available to those with breakfast reservations at the Three Broomsticks this weekend."

So there you go. Perhaps this will make its way on to the regular menu at Universal, maybe as a seasonal item. Thank you to Rob for the report!

Replies (20)

January 24, 2014 at 10:51 AM · Cold butterbeer was waaaaay too sweet for my sensitive English taste buds so the thought of it warm just sounds... even more sickly?

I just know people are going to love it...... :)

January 24, 2014 at 3:45 PM · Not true. Traditional hot region drinking culture tilts more not less towards warm drinks, tea in particular.
January 24, 2014 at 2:36 PM · I guess this would be OK on 50 degree days at the park, but in the July / August heat when my flip flops are melting to the asphalt? Ugh.....
January 24, 2014 at 3:24 PM · Butterbeer is soda. Who drinks a warm soda? This doesn't make sense in anyway.
January 24, 2014 at 3:45 PM · Warm drinks in hot lands might be the case in India and the Middle East, but there's not much of a hot-tea-in-summer culture in Florida, or the rest of the United States, for that matter.
January 24, 2014 at 4:22 PM · Sounds gross, but I would try it. Any reviews from people who actually tasted it yet?
January 24, 2014 at 4:41 PM · I was not planning on going to Universal this weekend partly because of the cold and partly because I figured it would be busy for the Harry Potter weekend. But I may have to go tomorrow just to try this out. It does not sound that good but I guess I will never know unless I try it. It seems like the pumpkin juice would be better warm. I think it would taste almost like a cider or something. James if I go I will let you know how it was.
January 24, 2014 at 7:03 PM · Thanks, bro! Have a great time.
January 24, 2014 at 8:38 PM · Butterbeer is *supposed* to be hot. It's a hot drink in the books, which is why they drink it in the Three Broomsticks in winter in Hogsmeade.
January 24, 2014 at 9:41 PM · I believe in the books that butterbeer is similar to a "hot toddy" type of drink. I think it's meant to warm people up. Clearly, they changed that for the Florida theme park.

I think hot butterbeer with dinner could be interesting for adults. I might try that in a restaurant, depending on what else was on the menu.

One thing that's missing from the Potter themed lands so far is a really nice sit-down restaurant. Like the signature restaurants in EPCOT or the Be Our Guest restaurant.

Wouldn't it have been marvelous if Universal built a signature Potter themed restaurant that was elegant and table-service, with a magical theme. Maybe call it "Ministry of Magic" or something...and possibly be like the Adventurer's Club in that there would be little floor shows and magical characters walking around to interact with. And they could really go to town with creative food and drink offerings, including an alcoholic version of butterbeer.

I would love that.

January 24, 2014 at 10:28 PM · It's more creamy than the cold and frozen version. Think along the lines of the texture of a hot chocolate but a butterscotch/vanilla flavor. It's pretty sweet, similar in sweetness to the frozen version.
January 24, 2014 at 11:32 PM · So it's hot butterscotch?

(Swoons.)

Annette, from what I understand the sit-down "Great Hall"-style Potter-themed restaurant might be a feature of the Wizarding World in Hollywood. I'd love to see that.

January 25, 2014 at 11:10 AM · Ok James here is my opinion of the warm butterbeer. Keep in mind I had very low expectations for this since I do not like hot drinks. I am not even a coffee drinker at all. But I loved this warm butterbeer! It is about the same thickness as a hot chocolate and it is served fairly hot too. In fact it was served in generic coffee cup with the cardboard on the outside. It did have a butterscotch flavor but not as stong as I would have expected. It has the same foam on top as the other drinks too. It is really sweet though so if u don't like sweet hot drinks it may not be for you. My Wife and I both loved it but come spring and summer I am sure it will be all frozen butter beer for us.
January 25, 2014 at 12:54 PM · Brent is DA MAN! We have to start calling you "Johnny On The Spot" since you're always around the action! Thanks!
January 25, 2014 at 3:10 PM · I got my warm butterbeer from Hogs Head Pub. I just walked up and ordered it. So I don't think the part about having to have a reservation at Three Broom Sticks is correct.
January 26, 2014 at 6:09 AM · I just told my wife about warm butterbeer. Her reaction? "Ugh! Cold butterbeer was bad enough!"
January 26, 2014 at 10:14 PM · It's interesting how different people have different tastes, like "Dave Brown's wife" who said "Ugh" and stated she didn't like butterbeer. To each their own.

I also find it interesting that people say the butterbeer is "too sweet". I think it all depends on how you look at this beverage. To me, it's a special treat type thing, which I look at as a replacement for a dessert or an ice cream in the park. I view it as a dessert/beverage combo because I know it will be sweet. It's a special thing I can get only one place in the whole world and the name of it is "butterbeer", which pretty much states it will be sweet.

I think people who say "Ugh" to this might be looking at it like it's a beverage, and might be mentally comparing it to Diet coke or something. I don't think Universal intends for people to be drinking butterbeer all day, like it is water. I'd be curious to see Universal's sales figures to know how many per day people really buy, but I'd think that one is the norm and that maybe people buy another on their way out.

As opposed to drinking maybe 4 or 5 sodas in a day or drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water.

I've never known anyone who tried butterbeer to say "Ugh" before. Dave Brown's wife sounds like a real charmer.

January 27, 2014 at 12:51 AM · My wife only likes the frozen variety and neither of my girls like Butterbeer at all. I only like the regular (non frozen) and it is sickeningly sweet, but that is what I like about it.

One serving goes a long way, but on the last day I turn into Fry from Futurama with his Slurm addiction and drink about five of them.

January 27, 2014 at 3:24 PM · When we were in Universal in February my oldest son and I tried a frozen Butterbeer, he not being a huge fan of butterscorch drank about a third and gave it to his mother. I usually like butterscotch but found it to be to sweet for my tastes, don't get me wrong I drank it and think next time I will avoid the frozen and just go normal but it is not something that I would want more then once a day. As for warm I don't think that I would want it very much, but you don't know until you try it.
January 27, 2014 at 7:05 PM · Oh, fer cryin' out loud.
Mr. Rao, like you, I don't give a flip about Daniel Radcliffe's next career move.
Phil B., you are absolutely correct--theme parks are a giant vacuum aimed directly at your wallet.
And Mr. Brown, your wife sounds like a lovely lady. Congratulations on marrying such a fine woman.
Cheers!

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