By Charly SHELTON

As I ventured through the cobblestoned streets of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the allure of a new ice cream venue beckoned. Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream counter recently opened at Universal Studios Hollywood and it’s a haven for those who seek solace in creamy enchanting treats. Located inside Honeyduke’s Sweets Shop, the counter boasts 10 unique flavors of soft serve, including the much-coveted butterbeer variety, each served in a traditional cup, waffle cone or special souvenir cup.

And with butterbeer season in full swing until April 30 the park is abuzz with excitement, serving up not only the cold, frozen and hot versions of the beloved drink but also butterbeer-inspired indulgences like fudge from Honeyduke’s, potted cream, and a soon-to-debut ice lolly (popsicle).

Universal welcomed us out to try all the treats, new and classic, available now. We started with the ice cream and tried all 10 flavors. It was around breakfast time and while everyone else was cracking eggs and frying bacon I ate 10 ice creams. The flavors were surprising in that the ones I thought would be shoo-ins as delicious options ended up being underwhelming, and the ones that I was dreading were actually amazing.

The butterbeer flavor was hands-down the best, but honorable mention goes to the pistachio, toffee apple and banana flavors. I never thought I would be able to actually recommend a pistachio ice cream but it was among the best on the menu and the first time I’ve ever enjoyed the flavor.

Beyond the frosty delights of Florean Fortescue’s, butterbeer season is a time to revel in the iconic flavors of the wizarding beverage. From the butterbeer fudge in Honeyduke’s to the butterbeer potted cream from Three Broomsticks, each confection is a tribute to the famous brew. And for those with a penchant for tradition, the three types of butterbeer – cold, frozen and hot – each provide a unique experience.

The cold version is an old standby – the classic taste of the land since opening in 2009, the frozen version is refreshing on a warm Hogsmeade day, and the hot butterbeer is a comforting cup of cheer, perfect for those brisk evenings, especially around the holidays. Whichever one you choose, be it a drink version or one of the other treats, you can’t miss. Honestly, it’s hard to beat a cold glass of butterbeer on a warm spring day, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have an accompaniment of the same flavor in the form of ice cream.

So, grab your wands and butterbeer steins to prepare for a delicious journey across Hogsmeade at Universal Studios Hollywood that revels in sweet butterbeer flavors and new ice cream surprises.

And for an in-depth look at all the foods I tried, don’t miss my video review on YouTube. Search for Charly Shelton/Zipahdeedoodad to watch, or scan the QR code attached to this story to see all the ice cream flavors and every type of butterbeer treat you can imagine.