‘Harry Potter’ beer festival to launch in the US

A travelling beer festival aimed at wannabe wizards and witches is launching in the US, featuring an alcoholic version of the fictional butterbeer beverage, taking in 10 dates across the country from Portland to Las Vegas.

The Hogwarts castle at Universal Studios

The Wizards and Witches Beer Festival, organised by Rock Star Beer Festivals, is described as a “wizarding world of wonders complete with magic, debauchery and mischeif (sic),” according to its Facebook event.

It will visit eight US cities, giving big kids the chance to knock back pints of alcoholic butterbeer served up from fictional watering holes including the Leaky Cauldron and the Three Broomsticks.

The “adult butterscotch beer” will be made with vanilla vodka, butterscotch liquor, butterscotch soda, whipped cream, and vanilla bean, according to Ryan Wieczorek, the festival’s director of sales and marketing.

In addition, twenty varieties of beers will be on offer, including winter, pumpkin, and holiday ales, with each venue decked out to look like sets from the iconic film, including Diagon Alley and Hogwart’s Great Hall. 

Live music will come courtesy of the ‘Slytherin Sisters’ and ‘DJ Dumbledore’ at the festival in Portland, Oregon.

The Facebook page for the event reads: “Join us for our Harry Potter inspired Beer Festival as we transform the Historic Castaway in Downtown Portland to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter complete with Hogwarts Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and the Leaky Cauldron.

“The event will host a beer tasting of over 20 winter, pumpkin, and holiday ales including Snape’s Lair of Secret Cider Potions and Adult Butter Beer. There will be a Hagrid Photo Op, plenty of characters, food from Mac Shackk, and live music from the Slytherin Sisters and DJ Dumbledore.”

A total of 13 events will take place across eight different locations, with tickets priced at $35 (£26.69) on Eventbrite.