Butterbeer - I just don't get it?

[bookgirl2632]

Hmm. Still not getting it.

I am a fan more of both the movies and the books. But not a hardcore rabid fan. To me, Butterbeer never seemed an important part of the story. If I hadn't read the fervor on the boards and went to the park, I might of not have even remembered it.

I do understand wanting to live and experience elements from the Harry Potter world. So in that regard it makes sense. But I'd think people would be more excited about getting a wand or robe than one drink that I didn't remember until I saw the postings here. I guess it is not that I am surprise people think it a cool thing to try. What I am surprised about is that people seem more excited about it than getting a wand or chocolate frog.

Plus, I don't care whether or not the drinks had an alcoholic effect in the book/movie (and it seems like there is a little debate on that) I would be disappointed to buy a "Beer" and then find out it had no alcohol. Especially if I waited in a long line for it.

:::shrug::: Root beer and birch beer have no alcohol either.

As for the rest, butterbeer, while not a major plot point, is an important part of the Harry Potter world for a lot of fans. It's as much a part of HP as the robes, wands, and Quidditch. It's all part of the experience.

 

[floridianer]

If you want to try a more "alcoholic" version, order a "Butterbomb"...
The good bartenders know what you want then and will give you a small Butterbeer and a little shot.
They are NOT ALLOWED to mix this but YOU can

OH, BTW... The little shot is Jaegermeister then...

 

[AJRitz]

Butterbeer is mildly alcoholic in the books - I always got the impression it was something around the alcohol content found in "near beer" or non-alcoholic beer. The only character who gets drunk on it is Winky the house-elf. There's a whole conversation down in the kitchens where the other house elves tell Hermione, Harry, and Ron how Winky drank three butterbeers (or something close to that), and how that was a LOT for a house elf.

 

[Albytaps]

Butterbeer is mildly alcoholic in the books

I thought I read that, now I know I'm not losing it... thanks.

 

[IzzyB]

Makes sense that they didn't put any alcohol in this version, because more people can buy it then. They are making way more money off this version than they would an alcoholic version. They do have the Hogs Head Brew verison of beer if you want an alcoholic drink.

I don't understand where the confusion is, there is lots of drinks with beer in them that are not beer nor do they have any alcohol in it.

 

[2cats1kid]

I'm excited to try butterbeer and this is why.

We know how the wands look, and the robes and whatnot. We know what the Great Hall looks like, and Hagrid's hut. We know that because we have seen the films (probably over and over, if you live with a Potter-mad kid like I do).

What the films and the books cannot convey are smells and tastes. I do not know what butterbeer smells and tastes like and now I can get to try it for myself! I'm not as excited about the chocolate frogs as I know what chocolate tastes like. Ditto pumpkin pasties and jelly beans. But butterbeer? Lead me to the queue and let me try it at last!

 

[Albytaps]

1 thing I'm looking forward to try as much as Butterbeer are the Cauldron Cakes.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I love that I am still learning new things about the books. I wasn't sure if Butterbeer was alcoholic, though my tendency was to think that it was non-alcoholic. I just thought the comment about the house elf was that he had a sugar high. Now it makes better sense.

I am sure I will try the Butterbeer. I like cream soda, but Butterbeer is sounding like it will be a little too sweet for me. I am more curious about the pumpkin juice, and wish they offered it frozen.

 

[MrShiny]

Hhmm, you must be really disappointed with root beer and ginger ale then too.

In the books, it can intoxicate house elves, but seems only mildly so to wizards. It's described as "not that strong" in book 4. Probably like a "near beer" I am guessing.

I think Harry drinks it in book 3, where he'd be 13. Thats a little young to purchase alcohol in the UK, but of course wizarding laws might be different if it does indeed contain alcohol!

The age to be able to purchase alcohol in the UK is 16 (if in an establishment and ordered with a meal). I don't think drinking in the home is illegal except for the very young (under 5 I think).

But still, I would no more assume butter beer had alcohol than I would root beer or ginger ale.

Apparently the OP seems of the opinion all beverages are useless unless alcoholic!

Hmm. Still not getting it.

I am a fan more of both the movies and the books. But not a hardcore rabid fan. To me, Butterbeer never seemed an important part of the story. If I hadn't read the fervor on the boards and went to the park, I might of not have even remembered it.

I do understand wanting to live and experience elements from the Harry Potter world. So in that regard it makes sense. But I'd think people would be more excited about getting a wand or robe than one drink that I didn't remember until I saw the postings here. I guess it is not that I am surprise people think it a cool thing to try. What I am surprised about is that people seem more excited about it than getting a wand or chocolate frog.

Plus, I don't care whether or not the drinks had an alcoholic effect in the book/movie (and it seems like there is a little debate on that) I would be disappointed to buy a "Beer" and then find out it had no alcohol. Especially if I waited in a long line for it.