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==Alcoholic Content==
  
==Alcoholic Content==
   
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It may have a very slight [[alcohol]] content, which could get [[House-elf|house-elves]] in a drunk-like state,<ref name="gof">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''</ref> though an [[Antidote to Butterbeer|antidote]] to this exists;but it is not comfirmed that it contains alcohol. It may be similar to Root Beer, in that it is called "beer" but is unalcoholic. It seems to have a less pronounced effect on [[human]]s. It could be that Butterbeer simply has too much sugar for smaller creatures.<ref name="hbp">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''</ref><ref>In the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', however, [[Hermione Granger]] appears to act slightly tipsy after a visit to the [[Three Broomsticks Inn]] where she was shown drinking some; this can be seen just before the discovery of [[Katie Bell]].</ref> In [[1996]], [[Harry Potter]] wondered what [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] might do at [[Professor]] [[Horace Slughorn]]&apos;s [[Slug Club Christmas party|Christmas Party]] "under the influence of Butterbeer",<ref name="hbp" /> indicating that it could lower inhibitions, perhaps like sugar. [[Winky]], a house-elf, took to getting a drunk-like state off Butterbeer after losing her job with the [[Crouch family]]<ref name="gof" /> — an addiction from which she never fully recovered.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm 2004 World Book Day chat]</ref>
 +
It may have a very slight [[alcohol]] content, which could get [[House-elf|house-elves]] in a drunk-like state,<ref name="gof">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''</ref> though an [[Antidote to Butterbeer|antidote]] to this exists;but it is not comfirmed that it contains alcohol. It may be similar to Root Beer, in that it is called "beer" but is non-alcoholic. It seems to have a less pronounced effect on [[human]]s. It could be that Butterbeer simply has too much sugar for smaller creatures.<ref name="hbp">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''</ref><ref>In the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', however, [[Hermione Granger]] appears to act slightly tipsy after a visit to the [[Three Broomsticks Inn]] where she was shown drinking some; this can be seen just before the discovery of [[Katie Bell]].</ref> In [[1996]], [[Harry Potter]] wondered what [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] might do at [[Professor]] [[Horace Slughorn]]'s [[Slug Club Christmas party|Christmas Party]] "under the influence of Butterbeer",<ref name="hbp" /> indicating that it could lower inhibitions, perhaps like sugar. [[Winky]], a house-elf, took to getting a drunk-like state off Butterbeer after losing her job with the [[Crouch family]]<ref name="gof" /> — an addiction from which she never fully recovered.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0304-wbd.htm 2004 World Book Day chat]</ref>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==

Revision as of 20:51, 3 December 2012

"Why don't we go and have a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, it's a bit cold, isn't it?"
— Hermione Granger inviting Harry Potter to the Three Broomsticks Inn.[src]

Butterbeer is a popular wizarding beverage described as tasting "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch."[1]

Description

Butterbeer is served cold in bottles and hot in "foaming tankards".[2] In Hogsmeade, it's sold at The Three Broomsticks[2] and The Hog's Head,[3] although the fact that the latter pub's stock was described as "very dusty" suggests that it was not sold there very often. In Diagon Alley, the drink has been known to be sold at the Leaky Cauldron.

At the Hog's Head, customers are charged two sickles per Butterbeer (£0.60 approximately),[3] but it is not certain whether this is a universal price for the drink, or if the price of the drink varies from location to location.

Alcoholic Content

It may have a very slight alcohol content, which could get house-elves in a drunk-like state,[4] though an antidote to this exists;but it is not comfirmed that it contains alcohol. It may be similar to Root Beer, in that it is called "beer" but is non-alcoholic. It seems to have a less pronounced effect on humans. It could be that Butterbeer simply has too much sugar for smaller creatures.[5][6] In 1996, Harry Potter wondered what Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger might do at Professor Horace Slughorn's Christmas Party "under the influence of Butterbeer",[5] indicating that it could lower inhibitions, perhaps like sugar. Winky, a house-elf, took to getting a drunk-like state off Butterbeer after losing her job with the Crouch family[4] — an addiction from which she never fully recovered.[7]

Behind the scenes

ButterBeer logo

A sign advertising Butterbeer.

  • Executive Chef of Universal Parks and Resorts, Steve Jayson commented that butterbeer is "Real comforting and nice and smooth going down".[8]
  • Butterbeer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be served either cold with a taste similar to cream soda or frozen as a slush with a butterscotch-like foam on top. One may also purchase it either in a regular plastic cup or in a collectible mug. Butterbeer is also served at The Making of Harry Potter.
  • Butterbeer may be based on Buttered Beer, which was a real drink. The earliest reference to Buttered Beer is from, 'The Good Huswifes Handmaide for the Kitchin' published in London in 1588 A.D., made from beer, sugar, eggs, nutmeg, cloves and butter back in Tudor times. Another old recipe for Buttered Beer, published by Robert May in 1664 A.D., from his recipe book, 'The Accomplisht Cook' calls for liquorish root and anniseeds to be added. British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal recreated it for his Tudor Feast.
  • In the first book, when Rubeus Hagrid broke into the hut on the rock, he takes a few things out of the pockets in his coat, including an "amber liquid" which he took a swig of before starting to make tea. This might have been butterbeer or simply an alcoholic drink, which it probably was.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Bon Appetit magazine interview
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  6. ↑ In the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, however, Hermione Granger appears to act slightly tipsy after a visit to the Three Broomsticks Inn where she was shown drinking some; this can be seen just before the discovery of Katie Bell.
  7. ↑ 2004 World Book Day chat
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) DVD 2nd-Disc Special Feature: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Sneak Peak
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