Butterbeer doesn't exist in the real world by any legal definition, which hasn't stopped it becoming one of the most requested flavours in UK sweet shops.
What J.K. Rowling actually described
In the Harry Potter books, Butterbeer is served warm in the Three Broomsticks and described as tasting faintly of butterscotch, with a low alcohol content, mild enough that even underage wizards are allowed a drink. It's fiction, and Rowling never gave a recipe, which left the door wide open for anyone who wanted to invent a real version.
Universal turned it into an actual product
The commercial version most people know comes from Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in Orlando in 2010. Universal's Butterbeer is a non-alcoholic, butterscotch-flavoured drink topped with a sweet foam, and it became one of the park's signature items, sold by the thousands daily and widely copied since.
Why UK sweet shops sell it too
Harry Potter's popularity in the UK never really faded, and specialist and novelty sweet shops picked up on demand from fans who couldn't get to Orlando: butterscotch-flavoured fudge, sweets and bottled soft drinks marketed under the Butterbeer name, all non-alcoholic, all aimed squarely at the same fandom that queues for the theme park version. It's a good example of a flavour that exists purely because of demand rather than any traditional confectionery history. If novelty, franchise-driven flavours are what you're after, our novelty sweets range is the place to look.
Frequently asked questions
What does Butterbeer taste like?
A warm, creamy butterscotch flavour with a frothy foam top.
Is Butterbeer alcoholic?
Mildly, in the books. The commercial UK and theme park versions are non-alcoholic.
Where can you get Butterbeer in the UK?
Specialist sweet shops sell butterbeer-flavoured fudge, sweets and bottled drinks aimed at Harry Potter fans.