Regal Just Launched A Frozen Theme Park Dupe (Probably For The Same Price)

Butterbeer doesn’t contain any alcohol. But you might wish it did and that you had a frothy goblet of it when I announce the following: it’s been twenty-five years since the first Harry Potter movie came out. That’s a quarter of a century. An entire young adult. With accruing debt. 

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To celebrate that major Back to Hogwarts milestone―and give us all a chance to sigh relief and live in English whimsy again―all eight Harry Potter movies have been (briefly) re-released in major movie theaters nationwide. In the meantime, Regal Cinemas just so happened to have re-released its ICEE-approximation of a very, very beloved Hogsmeade drink special.

A Magical Kind Of Coincidence

It’s called the Butterscotch ICEE, and it’s available now. In fact, it’s been available since August 24th, and might even remain available beyond the Harry Potter anniversary film re-release dates. To be honest, that’s all a matter of just how thirsty HP fans are for this very delightful, unofficial approximation of butterbeer. And confidence in the flavor quality should be high, since ICEE is the same company that put Peeps into drinkable form.

Again even if your local Regal has the movies playing, it should be stressed there’s no official collaboration between Regal and the Harry Potter franchise, especially since not all locations are guaranteed to have it. Though, if yours does, you might just get to enjoy the final days of the HP relaunch with a frosty drink with a (coincidentally) magical brown-sugary sheen. 

But Does It Taste Like Butterbeer?

Opinions on what butterbeer should taste like (and which temperature is best) vary. (Even the good people at Goldfish have tried to recreate it.) There’s a general consensus that it’s kind of like vanilla and butterscotch. Universal Orlando (home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) doesn’t give out its recipe, but says it’s based on flavors of shortbread and butterscotch. And Rowling herself described it butterbeer as “less sickly butterscotch”―meaning less sweet. 

As for the Regal ICEE unofficial version, fans seem to be loving it so far. One Instagram commenter who’s already tried it said “had no weird aftertaste like other versions” (of attempted butterbeer, that is). More than a couple commenters said their Regal location had no supply about Butterscotch ICEE―real or magical―so if your heart’s set on it (and most Harry Potter hearts run hot) call in advance.