What is a beer spa and where can I find one?

Have you ever taken a beer bath? In this article, we're going to figure out what exactly a beer spa is and where you can find some.

Dating back to ancient China and Egypt, the practice of taking baths in beer or its byproducts has been around for thousands of years. It was used to treat various ailments, and in the year 921 A.D., the first recorded beer bath took place in Prague. During the Middle Ages, they began to discover the benefits of these beer baths, which have many positive effects on the body. Due to the high amount of vitamin B in beer, it can brighten skin and help the scalp get rid of dead skin cells. The carbon dioxide in beer helps to improve blood circulation and lower blood pressure, and the warm temperatures help alleviate aches and pains by relaxing muscles. It is also believed to detoxify the body. The ingredients found in beer have been scientifically found to have everything from anti-bacterial to anti-inflammatory effects. They can even lower your chances of getting cancer!

However, beer baths do not fully live up to their name: the tub does not, and never has, contained pure beer. In fact, beer spas use a combination of some pre-fermentation beer, hops, a beer preservative, malted barley, yeast, and various herbs like lavender. While you can't drink the beer in the bath, some beer spas have a tap right next to the tub which can pour you a nice beer while you soak in it.

Beer baths are a traditional part of Eastern European culture, and since they were 'invented' in the Czech Republic, naturally, beer spas can be found all over cities like Prague. They can mainly be found in the Czech Republic, but you can also find beer spas in the rest of Eastern Europe and in other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. The UK's first beer spa opened at the Norfolk Mead Hotel on July 10, 2024 due to its rising popularity. In the US, you can find a couple of beer spas spread out across the country. Some examples include Hop in the Spa in Sisters, Oregon; the Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver, Colorado; and the Piva Beer Spa in Chicago, Illinois. In fact, at the BrewDog DogHouse Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, all 32 of their rooms are beer-themed -- with in-shower beers, beer bathtubs, and beer on tap in each room -- right next to their brewery. They also offer limited-edition beers and malt massages at their spa.

All in all, going to a beer spa is an amazing experience that truly rejuvenates the body, so it might be something you want to try out!