LeFou's Brew....the verdict?

[cba]

I'm excited to try it! I just hope it's better than how this forum is saying it.

 

[MissM]

I liked it. My first few sips I got a strong taste of the marshmallow but only at first. After that, it was a apple taste with a tangy/sweet of the foam. At first, I was like...this is weird, but good. Then I just kinda settled in and decided I like it. It's a lot though. Even though it's in a normal "Dixie" plastic type cup (I didn't spent the extra $5 for the plastic "souvenir" cup though I saw EVERYONE carrying them around MK today), it's actually quite dense and rich. Love and I split one and it was plenty.

For those curious, I asked a CM at the Tavern about my concerns on the artificial sweetener possibility. On the Disney Parks blog, it was specifically listed as "no sugar added" which usually means artificially sweetened. (Though I will note on the menu board it said NOTHING about "no sugar added" at all. Other quick service locations that have "no sugar added" desserts so specifically label them that way so maybe they've changed the designation of this drink...?) The CM was nice enough to bring me all the packaging for all three components - apple juice mix, marshmallow syrup and passion fruit/mango foam (which comes in a whipped cream type can!) - so I could scan the ingredients. I did NOT see any artificial sweeteners listed. Some preservatives and the marshmallow and the foam both had cane sugar but no artificial sweeteners! (No HFCS either that I saw!) The CM told me they don't have their official "ingredients" book made up yet which is why he brought out the actual components but he said they'd have that soon. He was VERY helpful and gracious about it so for anyone concerned about the new menu items, just ask!

 

[Prototype82]

Whats this pumpkin juice you speak of?

The greatest concoction on the face of God's green earth.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

I thought LeFou's Brew was terrible! The apple juice portion was too frozen, you couldn't really drink it, and the passion fruit mango whatever-the-heck on top looked more like a dollop of mayonnaise than foamy head. You can tell the apple juice has no sugar added, as you end up with a bad taste in your mouth, not unlike the aftertaste from drinking a diet soda. Disney's going to make a fortune on this stuff though, as you're going to need another drink or a pretzel or something in order to forget your LeFou's Brew experience.

When do you drink apple juice that has sugar added? If you tasted a bad aftertaste, I don't think it was that.

I liked it. My first few sips I got a strong taste of the marshmallow but only at first. After that, it was a apple taste with a tangy/sweet of the foam. At first, I was like...this is weird, but good. Then I just kinda settled in and decided I like it. It's a lot though. Even though it's in a normal "Dixie" plastic type cup (I didn't spent the extra $5 for the plastic "souvenir" cup though I saw EVERYONE carrying them around MK today), it's actually quite dense and rich. Love and I split one and it was plenty.

For those curious, I asked a CM at the Tavern about my concerns on the artificial sweetener possibility. On the Disney Parks blog, it was specifically listed as "no sugar added" which usually means artificially sweetened. (Though I will note on the menu board it said NOTHING about "no sugar added" at all. Other quick service locations that have "no sugar added" desserts so specifically label them that way so maybe they've changed the designation of this drink...?) The CM was nice enough to bring me all the packaging for all three components - apple juice mix, marshmallow syrup and passion fruit/mango foam (which comes in a whipped cream type can!) - so I could scan the ingredients. I did NOT see any artificial sweeteners listed. Some preservatives and the marshmallow and the foam both had cane sugar but no artificial sweeteners! (No HFCS either that I saw!) The CM told me they don't have their official "ingredients" book made up yet which is why he brought out the actual components but he said they'd have that soon. He was VERY helpful and gracious about it so for anyone concerned about the new menu items, just ask!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ern-in-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/

On the Parks Blog, it seems like they only meant to advertise the apple juice as "no sugar added", not the entire drink... which is what all of my apple juice is anyway. Maybe they just wanted to get parents who don't want their kids to have super sugary drinks like pop, since it's "just" apple juice.

 

[bubbles1812]

Not tried Disney's new treat so can't comment on it, but butterbeer is a different story. Had some last year after hearing how fantastic it suposedly was and was very dissapointed to say the least. I actually prefer original cream soda to butterbeer and Mrs M and I ended up throwing half of a shared one away it was such a let down. Didn't try the frozen version as couldn't really imagine it being much different, if you don't like orange juice then chances are you won't like frozen orange juice was my thinking on that score.

By all accounts I have seen, the frozen butterbeer wins out hands down compared to the non frozen version. I know you'd think it would work out that way as how you stated in the second half of your sentence, but it seems from what I've read that it doesn't at all. Next time you are at WHOPP, I'd encourage you to give the frozen kind a chance at least once. I like both but I like the frozen version way better.

I like apple juice and passion fruit but not entirely sure about the shot of marshmellow... that makes it sound kind of gross to me personally. I like marshmellows but the only time I usually like them in a drink is if I'm having hot chocolate. But I will definitely give it a whirl when I'm at Disney next. I will say I am very amused that no way do the guests not know that this was Disney's attempt at "butterbeer." If Uni hadn't decided to make that, I think no way do we get a Lefou's brew...so yay competition! Now if only Disney decides to do it on a bigger scale...

 

[WeLComeHomE OKW]

I really love the new drink (I had it in DCA in August...it's the same drink that they serve in Carsland). But, I would still have to give the edge to frozen butterbeer. I still look forward to having more of both though.

 

[JustInTime]

Pumpkin juice, especially the packaging (the plastic bottle with the plastic pumpkin topper), is awesome. Par excellence, in the realm of theme park themed beverages. I liked it more than butterbeer, but then again, maybe I'm just a sucker for cool packaging.

I wish butterbeer came in an actual glass beer bottle. But yeah, I know that's not possible based on what it is and how it's designed to be served.

There is actually a soda company that makes, "Butterscotch Beer". It tastes just like what is in the parks.

 

[Amused to Death]

When do you drink apple juice that has sugar added? If you tasted a bad aftertaste, I don't think it was that.

It definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. As to whether it has anything to do with "no sugar added," I can't say, as I don't know what the ingredients are. It is possible, though, to be a lower calorie version of apple juice. If you check Mott's site, you'll see that they make a Mott's Original Apple Light, that happens to contain sucralose. And, yes, sucralose (aka Splenda) can leave a bad taste in your mouth. In the case of LeFou's Brew, perhaps it's just the oddball mixture of flavors that create the bad aftertaste. I just know that I didn't like it going down, and I especially didn't like it 30 minutes later. I won't be back for another.

Edit: I just noticed MissM's post above. Unless she missed sucralose on the various lists of ingredients, I guess we can rule out artificial sweeteners.

 

[MissM]

Edit: I just noticed MissM's post above. Unless she missed sucralose on the various lists of ingredients, I guess we can rule out artificial sweeteners.

Trust me, I was on the lookout for aspartame and sucralose! Splenda makes me physically ill so I read ingredients on EVERYTHING these days. (Because they put it in things that aren't specifically "Light" or "Diet" like bread, chips and cereals.)

It's why I can't drink any of the "lemonade" in the parks either. Every single place that sells it uses the "Minute Maid Light" which is artificially sweetened.

 

[wiigirl]

I tried it. It just tasted like frozen apple juice to me. Didn't have that great taste that butterbeer has

LOL

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Trust me, I was on the lookout for aspartame and sucralose! Splenda makes me physically ill so I read ingredients on EVERYTHING these days. (Because they put it in things that aren't specifically "Light" or "Diet" like bread, chips and cereals.)

It's why I can't drink any of the "lemonade" in the parks either. Every single place that sells it uses the "Minute Maid Light" which is artificially sweetened.

I hate that! Nothing like a nice, cold lemonade on a hot day, but you can only get the "light" stuff!

 

[PeterMarcus]

It's alright. I'm not a fan of apple juice, and it has a pronounced apple flavor. That said, I thought the other ingredients meshed really well and it had a subtle layering of flavors. If only I could get over the apple flavor. My 5 year old boy finished mine and he loved it.

As we were waking into the new Fantasyland, we overheard a couple walking out who said: "I mean it's okay, it's no butterbeer..." so I think the comparison is on everyone's mind.

 

[TubaGeek]

I'm guessing the prices are more extreme than butterbeer? That's one category where Uni consistently wins, hands down.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I tried it as Red's Apple Freeze in Cars Land. The first few sips are really good since the marshmallow flavor is on the bottom, but after that it mostly just tastes like frozen apple juice. I feel like they should re-do the drink to have a more consistent flavor throughout. Because of that, I feel that Butterbeer and (carbonated) Pumpkin Juice are better.

 

[Bolt]

I'm guessing the prices are more extreme than butterbeer? That's one category where Uni consistently wins, hands down.

The drink plus the mug is $9.99 which is equal, if not cheaper, than butterbeer plus the mug.

I agree with the others on here, I liked the Brew better than Butterbeer. I think the conensus on this drink will be a toss up all the way, either you love apple based drinks or you don't. I don't think it would change someones mind if they didn't already like apple juice.

 

[COProgressFan]

I hate that! Nothing like a nice, cold lemonade on a hot day, but you can only get the "light" stuff!

Yeah, I don't know why they made that switch (about 4 or so years ago) to only serving the light lemonade. It's pretty gross.

 

[cjgren]

The drink plus the mug is $9.99 which is equal, if not cheaper, than butterbeer plus the mug.

I agree with the others on here, I liked the Brew better than Butterbeer. I think the conensus on this drink will be a toss up all the way, either you love apple based drinks or you don't. I don't think it would change someones mind if they didn't already like apple juice.

I paid something like $12 for my frozen butterbeer with the mug last month; so it looks like this is actually cheaper!

 

[case88]

I'm not a fan of apple juice, but thought the brew was really good. Not better than Butterbeer (or pumpkin juice), but but the marshmallow and other flavors gave it more of a unique flavor than just "frozen apple juice." Taken in context of Gaston's Tavern, the pork shank and brew made for a fun lunch.

 

[DarkImage4]

We had our first LeFou's Brew this past Saturday, and we have had butterbeer in the past...so her are some thoughts...

- LB is much less sweet than BB...while I enjoy BB, it could be considered over the top sweet
- We felt LB is much better if you give it a good mixing. While yummy as is, if you get the marshmallow at the bottom and the foam from the top all combined with the frozen juice the flavor is that much better...
- We also agreed that LB is actually "refreshing" and more thirst quenching than BB. I did not feel the need for another drink as a "chaser" to our LB, while I needed water after my BB.

Final verdict, we like them both...a lot...but if we'd have to choose I'd lean in favor of LB and my wife to BB

PS - A little inside info for those worried about calorie counting...LB is much "healthier" than BB.

The calorie count...

Butterbeer - 600+ calories
LeFou's Brew - 250 calories

 

[HTF]

The verdict?

5 dollars for a frozen minute maid apple juice with mango cool whip on top. Pass me a butter beer please and at a dollar less at that.