Butterbeer is, perhaps, the most iconic drink in the Harry Potter series. Harry, Ron, and Hermione graduate from pumpkin juice to butterbeer on one of their many visits to Hogsmeade, aka Hogwart's Green Street. The actual ingredients of butterbeer are a mystery, but How to Drink dug up a 1588 British recipe that is likely the inspiration behind the iconic beverage. The Universal Studios version is great for all ages, but the holiday season sometimes requires something a tad stronger, especially when family is involved. I made this recipe for Thanksgiving and it is officially midwestern-dad-approved. Whether you're a Ravenclaw (obviously the best), a Hufflepuff, a Gryffindor, or even a Slytherin, ready your cauldrons: you're going to want to try this.

Ingredients:

3 Pints real ale

1 cup brown sugar

5 egg yolks

1 inch fresh grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

6 whole cloves

1/2 cup salted butter

Directions:

Carefully pour ale into a pot, avoiding froth, and heat to a low simmer. You can use pretty much any dark ale or subsistute a lighter beer for a less beer-inclined crowd. I used 25 O'Clock Brewing Company's East of the Quad quadrupel Belgian style ale, which is a local brewery near UIUC's campus.

Stir in ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Be careful not to overheat the ale and accidentally boil out the alcohol.

In a seperate bowl, beat together egg yolks and brown sugar until smooth. Add mixture to ale and stir well.

Melt the butter into the ale, stirring continuously. Add more brown sugar to taste if ale is particularly strong or if you prefer a sweeter drink.

Serve in mugs and garnish with nutmeg. If young wizards want to join in on the fun, microwave their mugs for an extra 3-5 minutes to cook out the majority of the alcohol content. Accio butterbeer! (I'm sorry, I had to). Enjoy!