Feature Photo and design by Brian Kachejian
Sometimes a snack review becomes a little more personal than expected.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London with my son, where much of the Harry Potter film series was brought to life. It was an unforgettable experience. Walking through the sets, seeing the props, and experiencing the world of Harry Potter firsthand was magical for both of us. Of course, no visit would have been complete without trying Butterbeer.
I have also enjoyed Butterbeer at the Harry Potter store in New York City, but I have to be honest, the Butterbeer I had in London was on another level. Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was because I was experiencing it where so much of the magic was created. Whatever the reason, it remains one of my favorite themed food experiences ever.
So when I saw that Goldfish had once again released its limited edition Harry Potter Butterbeer Goldfish, I knew I had to try them. I missed them the first time around when they were introduced about a year ago. Apparently, I was not the only one because the product was popular enough to earn a quick return to store shelves. That does not happen very often in the snack food world.
The History Of Goldfish And Pepperidge Farm
Many people think of Goldfish strictly as crackers, but there is much more to the story.
Goldfish crackers were introduced in the United States by Pepperidge Farm in 1962 after founder Margaret Rudkin discovered the snack during a trip to Switzerland. Over the decades, Goldfish became one of the most successful snack brands in America, known for its iconic fish shape and wide variety of flavors.
One thing that immediately caught my attention about the Harry Potter Butterbeer Goldfish was the packaging. The bag looked very similar to the packaging used for many Pepperidge Farm cookies. That makes perfect sense because Goldfish is a Pepperidge Farm brand. While most people associate Goldfish with savory crackers, Pepperidge Farm has been producing cookies, baked goods, and sweet snacks for generations. In many ways, this limited edition release feels more like a cookie than a traditional Goldfish cracker.
Butterbeer And The Harry Potter Connection
Butterbeer has become one of the most recognizable foods associated with the Harry Potter universe.
First introduced in J.K. Rowling’s books, Butterbeer was the favorite beverage of students visiting Hogsmeade Village. When the Harry Potter films became a worldwide phenomenon, Butterbeer quickly became a real-world attraction at Harry Potter themed destinations around the globe.
Today, Butterbeer can be found at Universal theme parks, Harry Potter stores, and special events. The flavor is generally described as a blend of cream soda, butterscotch, vanilla, and caramel notes. It has become such a popular part of the franchise that companies continue finding new ways to bring the flavor to fans.
Since I missed these the first time they were released, I was pretty excited to finally get my hands on a bag. The fact that Goldfish brought them back so quickly told me that people must have really liked them the first time around.
The moment I tasted one, I understood why.
These taste absolutely nothing like traditional Goldfish crackers. In fact, if someone handed me a handful without showing me the package, I never would have guessed they came from the Goldfish brand. This is much closer to a cookie than a cracker.
The flavor immediately reminded me of a graham cracker, but without the honey notes that usually define it. Instead, the dominant flavor falls somewhere between cream soda and butterscotch, with a smooth vanilla sweetness running throughout. The combination works surprisingly well and does a much better job of capturing the essence of Butterbeer than I expected.
As someone who has actually had Butterbeer in London at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and again at the Harry Potter Store in New York City, I was curious to see how close these would come to the real thing. While no snack is ever going to completely duplicate the experience of drinking an ice cold Butterbeer, Goldfish did a remarkable job capturing the flavor profile that Harry Potter fans have come to love.
I went into this expecting a novelty snack. What I found instead was a genuinely delicious treat that I had a hard time putting down. Harry Potter fans are probably going to love these, but even people who have never read a single book or watched a single movie may find themselves reaching for another handful.
This is one of the best limited edition snack releases I have tried in a long time.
Final Review
I went into this review expecting a fun novelty item. What I found instead was a genuinely delicious snack that delivers a unique flavor profile unlike anything else currently offered by Goldfish. The cream soda and butterscotch combination works beautifully. The texture is more cookie-like than cracker-like, and the flavor is surprisingly authentic to the Butterbeer experience. This is one limited edition product that deserves all the attention it has received.
Score
10 Out Of 10
If you’re a fan of Goldfish snacks, be sure to check out our complete ranking of the Best Goldfish Flavors Ranked, where we compare the classic favorites along with some of the brand’s most unique limited edition releases.
