Monday, November 17, 2014

Butterbeer - Universal Studios

Yesterday, with our new annual passes in hand, we headed to Universal Studios to check out Diagon Alley. 


After riding Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, we headed over to the Fountain of Fair Fortune for some Butterbeer.  Chef Bob from Universal did confirm for me earlier this year that Butterbeer is indeed gluten free.  If you would like to read the history of how this drink was created for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, check out Butterbeer: How the Harry Potter Beverage Was Made Real.  One thing I learned from this article is that Universal Orlando wanted the beverage to be free of dairy products, so more guests would be able to enjoy it, but sadly, when I contacted Universal, they said Butterbeer contains dairy.  Chef Bob said it does not contain any of the other top 8 allergens though.  The recipe for this non-alcoholic drink, that is prepared on property, is a secret.  


We always order the frozen version of Butterbeer, which is especially heavenly on one of our blazing hot days in Orlando.  So are you wondering what Butterbeer tastes like?  To me, it tastes like cream soda with a hint of butterscotch.  The topping is meant to taste like marshmallow fluff, but not as sweet.  


All I know is that it is wickedly delicious, and J.K. Rowling approved the perfect beverage for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I am a water drinker who avoids soda, juice and other sweet beverages, but I have to get a Butterbeer every time we go to Universal.  Unlike LeFou's Brew at Gaston's Tavern in the Magic Kingdom, I do not find Butterbeer to be overly sweet.

Butterbeer is available at several locations in both Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida).  Butterbeer ice cream is also gluten free.  You can read my review here.

My friend Amanda from The Gluten and Dairy-Free Review Blog has allergen information for all the specialty beverages at Diagon Alley on her blog.  Fishy Green Ale, Otters Fizzy Orange, Peachtree Fizzing Tea, and Tongue Tying Lemon Squash are gluten free.  You can read more on Amanda's website here.  

June 26, 2016 Update

Two of my blog readers were recently told that Butterbeer is no longer gluten free by employees at the Harry Potter quick service restaurants, but I emailed Chef Bob, and he confirmed that it is still gluten free, and the recipe has not changed.  One of my blog readers also contacted Universal Orlando Resort, and received an email from their Guest Communications Team this week confirming that both Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice are gluten free.  


20 comments:

  1. I was afraid to try it because I read somewhere online that it had dairy on the top in the foam. I can't wait to see what they tell you. I would love to be able to try it next time I go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carrie, unfortunately Butterbeer is not dairy free

      Delete
    2. Butterbeer is still gluten free but there is dairy in the topping

      Delete
    3. I was told that the topping contained no dairy,only Whey powder and I just went last week. Granted, I went to the one in California where we have a slew of health freaks so I can't speak for the Florida park. But the topping is simply butterscotch and whey whip with no dairy.

      Delete
    4. I also just looked it up because I remember a long time ago there was a reason I couldn't have whey anymore. I didn't realize whey is just another protein in milk. Not a completely different substance. So I am in fact incorrect. Butterbeer is lactose free but not completely dairy free. I wish people would realize those are two different things but I can't fault the workers if they're not privy to that. It also explains the reaction I had the next day.

      Delete
    5. I was told the same thing when I went. It contains whey protein a derivative of dairy. I took a chance and was fine! I think my issue is more casein

      Delete
  2. We just got home from Universal and unfortunately we were told many times by many managers at many Butter Beer locations that it is in fact NOT gluten free. This may be because the recipe has recently changed. I did extensive research including e-mailing the head chef everyone writes to. He did not answer my question, just sent a form letter stating they take great care preparing their food. All blogs suggested the Butter Beer was GF, I drank maybe 5 sips from my sons and with-in 2 hours had the worst stomach pains I had experienced in a very long time. I initially assumed it was from my lunch at Mythos. The next day when my symptoms had subsided, still thinking it was lunch, I had a few sips of my other sons butter beer with-in an hour the same thing happened. I then started asking the managers (not the staff) and each one of them said NO the butter beer is not GF, do not drink it. When I asked what was in it, they could not tell me. I am assuming it is a form of barley malt. I am highly sensitive to barley. The chefs at Universal are not as "aware" as Universal would like to think. The head chef at the Royal Pacific told me what I could and couldn't eat...as we passed the cereal he said none were ok, but he would look in the back to see if he had rice crispies (made from barley malt)....he then told me the sausage and the bacon were fine, until I saw a waiter taking them off of bread ( to absorb the grease) If you are coming from Disney, don't let the Orlando sun mislead you. Universal is not allergy friendly. The chefs are not well educated and there are very few options. I'm glad my kids had their fill of these two parks because we will not be visiting again. My suggestion is stay at Disney, and visit Universal 1 day. Ask the chef at Disney to pack you a lunch. They will pack you more food then you can eat and you can trust is was made correctly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have contacted Universal with your concerns. You might want to contact them also.

      Delete
    2. Michelle, I finally saw the allergy sheet for butterbeer. It does contain dairy and tartrazine, but is free of peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, sulfite, and gluten. Any chance you might be sensitive to tartrazine? Universal has still not responded to my email, which I sent over a month ago. Did you contact them?

      Delete
  3. It seems only the foam has dairy. I know they won't serve it without the foam, but I wonder if my dairy allergic daughter might be able to at least try it if she avoids the foam. Her sensitivity level has gone down as she gets older, so I'm considering it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I'm thinking when we go there next year, my gf/df girls might be able to have a butterbeer as they do tolerate small amounts of dairy now and then (butter and cheese are the only things they currently have that contain dairy). Even if it means I take most of the topping off, and just leave them with a bit to try :)

      Delete
  4. :( --Maybe if enough people ask they will start carrying a dairy free option! I would gladly pay a little extra for it :D ! --Lets all go email/call/contact universal studios!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know this is an old post, but just an FYI, the foam on the butterbeer is made with ingredients from a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts, so for severe peanut/tree nut allergic guests, they should NOT drink the butter beer. They are not allowed to serve it without the foam, so even though the drink itself would be fine for peanut/tree nut allergies, the foam is required to be put on top, making it potentially unsafe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi just wanted to let everyone know that butter beer does contain gluten. I contacted management from Universal Studios and they informed me that it does.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Addie - Just curious about who you contacted, and is this for the Universal in Florida or California? Butterbeer has never contained gluten in the past in Florida, but for many years, cross contamination was a concern.

      Delete
    2. I just checked some Universal posts in my private Facebook group Gluten Free in Orlando. As of June 2017, Chef Bob at Universal Orlando was still saying the Butterbeer is gluten free in his emails.

      Delete
  7. Hello - Are you able to contact the Chef to determine whether the Butter Beer at Universal Orlando is peanut free (meaning, that is is NOT processed in a facility that handles Peanuts)? I have read conflicting information online, called Universal, and scoured their website but there is no definitive information available from them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Join the Facebook group Universally Gluten Free. It has been a long time since I have been at Universal.

      Delete