-Orlando, FL ~ October 2020-
As a Muggle raising a Wizard, my first thought before I even entered this Wizarding World years ago was, there better be good beer. Well, the beer options are good, and the Wizarding World is quite impressive. No detail was spared.
The Universal Studios in Florida has two (non water), theme parks. You get to the parks by walking through City Walk. Each park has their own Harry Potter section connected by the Hogwarts Express. Of course, you have to pay extra for a park hopper to enjoy that specific attraction. If you do shell out the money, good news! You can bring your beer on the train! It will, however, probably be gone by the time you board because like most things theme park related, there is a line.
Butter Beer & Beer Beer
Butter beer is, of course, all the rage in these Wizard areas, and can be found everywhere. It even comes in ice cream form, and in cooler months you can get it hot. However, since Butter Beer is non-alcoholic, Universal made sure the beer beer fans were also catered to. There are Harry Potter exclusive beers brewed about an hour from the park at Florida Beer Company in Cape Canaveral. At both parks, you will find a Milk Stout called Wizard’s Brew, and a Red Lager called Dragon Scale.
If you end up caving, and letting your kid get the interactive wand, you’ll definitely want a beer as you follow them around casting spells everywhere. So, to be better prepared, below is what the parks were offering in October 2020. Pre-Pandemic, there was a beer cart in the line for Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure (AN ABSOLUTE MUST), so you never know where more beer may magically appear!
Universal Studios
Diagon Alley
The Hopping Pot
- Wizard’s Brew- Milk Stout, FL Beer Co.
- Dragon Scale- Red Lager, FL Beer Co.
- Amstel Light
- Heineken
- Newcastle Brown Ale
- Stella Artois
- Strongbow Cider
- Yuengling
Leaky Cauldron
- Wizard’s Brew- Milk Stout, FL Beer Co.
- Dragon Scale- Red Lager, FL Beer Co.
- Amstel Light
- Heineken
- Newcastle Brown Ale
- Stella Artois
- Strongbow Cider
- Yuengling
The Fountain of Fair Fortune
- Wizard’s Brew
- Dragon Scale
- Amstel Light
- Yuengling
Islands of Adventure
Hogsmeade
Three Broomsticks
- Wizard’s Brew- Milk Stout, FL Beer Co.
- Dragon Scale- Red Lager, FL Beer Co.
Hogs Head (the bar inside Three Broomsticks)
- Wizard’s Brew- Milk Stout, FL Beer Co.
- Dragon Scale- Red Lager, FL Beer Co.
- Hog’s Head Brew-Scottish Ale, FL Beer Co.
- Bud Light
- Yuengling
- Stella Artois
- Bass
- Guinness
- Bodingtons
- Strongbow Cider
In true English Pub fashion you can also get different cuvees such as a Black & Tan, or a Snakebite. Of course, they are not called by their muggle names. A Black & Tan is called a Black Hog and combines Guinness and Hog’s Head Scottish Ale. The Snakebite is called Hog’s Bite and combines the cider and the Hog’s Head Scottish Ale.
The Muggle World Also Has Great Beer
Throughout both parks (and City Walk), many great beer options can be found. They even have an Irish Bar, and Moe’s Tavern complete with Duff Beer (also brewed by Florida Beer Company). Horror Nights has also released seasonal beers solely for those special nights, and I have found Oak Aged Jai Alai from Cigar City before as well. So you never know what beer gems can show up at Universal.
So, whether you’re casting spells in Diagon Alley, fighting the Green Goblin with Spidey, posing with Optimus Prime, or having a beer with Homer Simpson, there is never a need to settle for mediocre beer. On that note…grab your robe, your wand, and ACCIO BEER! Cheers!
*Did I miss any Harry Potter beer information?! Let me know!
For more information regarding Universal Orlando visit: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us
Also visiting Disney? We got some Beer themed articles for that as well!
