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| LariLee |
 Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 5:15 pm |
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I've read many a few fan-fics that suggest butterbeer is alcoholic. I know Winky gets drunk off it, but I thought that was because she is a house-elf and their metabolisms might be different.
Personally, I think of it more as a cross between really good creme soda and rootbeer, possibly butterscotchy type of blend. But not alcoholic or they wouldn't let kids drink it.
So, my question is: "Is butterbeer alcoholic?" |
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| azazello |
| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:10 pm |
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Joined: 29 Nov 2004
Posts: 183
Location: Northern UK
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I think it is just a bit. A very teeny bit.
Ever heard of "shandy"? That's a mixed drink of beer (brown British beer) and lemonade (leaning heavily to the lemonade, rather than the beer) which is a fairly old-fashioned but nice refreshing drink for a hot day. That's a possibility.
An alternative, is "Ginger beer" which is not really alcoholic at all, and is really nice, refreshing and tangy.
Perhaps House Elves don't really have a head for booze, however vestigial. |
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| Fionnait NíPheadar |
| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:15 pm |
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Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 13
Location: Germany
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In Germany there is a beverage called malt beer. There are types that have no alcohol at all and types that have extremely little alcohol. Children are allowed to drink both. Alcoholics who have quit drinking however, have to be extremely careful not to drink the latter, because it contains enough to possibly make them crave for more.
Maybe it's a bit like that with an additional 'buttery' flavour.
I agree that house-elves are probably just very sensitive towards alcohol. And we really don't have to go that far. Most Asian people for example lack the enzyme that is necessary to decompose alcohol and therefore get frunk by the tiniest bit.
Cheers, Fionnait |
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| Pennfana |
| Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:37 am |
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Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 216
Location: Ontario, Canada
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I thought that in one of the books (probably Goblet of Fire), someone mentions Winky getting drunk on the stuff, and Harry is surprised--he says something along the lines of "But that stuff's not strong".
Of course, that could just be me. 
Edit: Just another thought--it's occurred to me that butterbeer might possibly be the Harry Potter equivalent of root beer or ginger ale. I mean, have you ever heard of anybody getting drunk from a can of Vernor's or A&W? 
OK, I'll stop now.  |
Last edited by Pennfana on Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
_________________
Accio mind!  |
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| trickstershadow |
| Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:45 pm |
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| I'm pretty sure that what Pennfana said is true. Also it says butterbeer is a warm drink, and people don't get drunk on cakes that have a lot of it, maybe because it's cooked. I remember my mom saying something about that. House elves might have a different reaction. |
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| d00mkitty |
| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:30 am |
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Joined: 31 Dec 2004
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| i remember that bit about winky and butterbeer from the goblet of fire. maybe when butterbeer is cooked or heated in any way, the alcohol in it is oxidised and thus the alcohol content is reduced? |
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| snapeaddict |
| Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:38 am |
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Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 48
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Butterbeer always made me think of malt beer, just as Fionnait NíPheadar. Sometimes it does contain alcohol but only minute amounts. So normally it's quite impossible to get drunk on it and children are allowed to drink it. Maybe a house elf would get drunk though.
The other idea I had was shandy, too. It must be a drink that most people consider harmless and that third year students are allowed to drink. |
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| Miss Bellatrix Black |
| Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:55 am |
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
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Location: Underground
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Yeah, could be shandy, although I always had the impression of something more like a creamy coffee-like substance with butterscotch in it. Something a bit thicker than normal drinks which is warm and has caffine in it.
Maybe House-elves have a reaction to caffine...like some kids who get hyperactive off of it. |
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| zafania |
| Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:21 am |
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Joined: 22 Feb 2005
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| personally i always thought it was slightly alcoholic, i mean most kids do have a drink of shandy(1/2 beer 1/2 lemonade) now and then, attitudes to drinking are not as strict in the uk. i had wine at mealtimes from the age of 5, and sherry or baileys or cider from about 8 at social gathering, and i'm an extremely moderate drinker. I alwats got the impression that butterbeer was a remant of the medieaval tradition where everyone drank a weak ale known as small beer, servants were alloted up to 8pints a day, it was regarded as nutritios, like a liquid bread (it's got the same basic ingredients after all) I always thought that it was maybe 2 or3% alcohol, about half the strengh of bitter, so like shandy. every teenager drinks shandy, most drink their dads beer at home. Kids aren't normally allowed to drink in pubs, but thay are allowed in, and many do drink if their parents(illegally) but them something, it happens all the time |
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