What Does a Beer Bath Feel Like? Inside Oakwell’s Beer Bath Experience

An herbal beer bath feels like sinking into a warm, gently bubbling herbal bath. And no, you aren’t soaking in beer: you’re actually getting the benefits of a bath infused with beer-inspired ingredients like hops, barley, and botanicals. Despite the name, you aren’t bathing in fermented beer—and you won’t leave smelling like a brewery. 

Still, what does a beer bath feel like when you’re actually sitting in one? Is the water sticky? Does it smell like someone opened a keg nearby? And is a beer bath experience truly relaxing, or is it mostly something fun to tell your friends you tried?

Here’s what to expect when you settle in for a soak at Oakwell Beer Spa. 

What Does a Beer Bath Feel Like?

A beer bath stays between 95–100°F, so there’s no need to brace yourself for an intense or uncomfortable soak. Unlike an extra-hot soak that can leave you flushed or drained, this warm beer-infused soak is designed to be luxurious and relaxing. 

During the first 60 seconds, you’ll start noticing things like:

• Bubbles gently fizzing around you
• The scent of hops, barley, and herbs
• The botanicals giving the water a silkier feel than a regular bath

After soaking for a few minutes, you’ll notice your body start to loosen and let go. Your shoulders drop, your jaw unclenches, and you’ll feel pleasantly refreshed. 

Is a Beer Bath Like a Hot Tub?

No. The beer spa sensation is gentler and more relaxing than your run-of-the-mill hot tub. They differ in a few other important ways, like:

1. Water temperature: Oakwell’s beer baths stay around your natural body temperature, while hot tubs are usually between 100–102°F. 
2. Gentle bubbling: Oakwell’s beer baths don’t use the powerful jets you’ll find in hot tubs, but our bubblers are powerful enough to deliver an amazing hydromassage. 
3. Botanical ingredients: Hot tubs smell like chlorine and chemicals, but that’s not the case with a beer bath. Hops, barley, and seasonal herbs give the water a softer feel and subtle, earthy aroma.
4. Private setting: Unlike a communal hot tub, Oakwell’s beer baths are located inside private spa suites. You don’t have to share the water or make conversation with strangers. You can talk, laugh, listen to music, or relax quietly without anyone else around.

Even if you aren’t a “spa person,” you’ll love how much more relaxing a beer bath is compared to a hot tub. The Oakwell experience is elevated but relaxed, so even if a traditional day spa isn’t your thing, you’ll fall in love with our private spa suites featuring beer-infused baths, infrared saunas, and rain showers.

There are no hands-on treatments or complicated spa etiquette to figure out here, either. First-timers can relax without wondering whether they’re doing anything wrong. Couples are free to talk and reconnect instead of staying silent, like you would at a traditional spa.

What Does a Beer Bath Smell Like?

Fortunately, you won’t leave smelling like someone poured a six-pack on you. A beer bath has an earthy, herbal smell with a slight whiff of warm bread. The aroma comes from hops, barley, and botanicals. There’s no alcohol in the bath, and the scent is much closer to a botanical spa treatment than a brewery. 

You also won’t leave feeling sticky, either. Our beer baths infuse herbs into the water, but without any of the ingredients that make you feel sticky. In fact, many guests say they notice glowing skin and shinier hair after a good soak. Before ending your visit, you can also rinse off in your private rain shower so you feel completely refreshed. 

The Oakwell Beer Bath Experience From Start to Finish

Oakwell’s baths are truly unique, but that’s just one part of the experience. If you’re visiting Oakwell for the first time, here’s what you can expect. 

1. Check in: When you arrive, you’ll check in and our friendly staff will explain how everything works. 
2. Sample craft drinks in the taproom: We recommend arriving a little before your scheduled time to slow down and enjoy a moment in Oakwell’s taproom. You’ll receive an RFID card you can use at the self-pour beer wall, although we also have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks and gourmet snacks. 
3. Head to your private suite: Once you’re in your suite, you have 90 minutes to enjoy a beer-infused bath, infrared sauna, and rain shower. Many guests start in the infrared sauna to warm up before moving into the beer-infused bath. The bath will begin to automatically drain 70 minutes in, giving you 20 minutes to shower and get dressed. Each bath is drained after the session, and Oakwell’s team thoroughly cleans and refills the tub before the next guests arrive. 
4. Continue relaxing: At this point, you’ll already feel calm and pleasantly loose after soaking. But there’s more to do at Oakwell beyond your private spa suite. Check out our first-come, first-served zero-gravity massage chairs in the Relaxation Lounge. The NASA-inspired reclined position supports your body while the chair delivers a full-body massage. 
5. Visit the taproom: When your massage ends, you can spend more time in the taproom instead of immediately heading back into the world. 

Curious? The Water’s Warm

So, what does a beer bath feel like? It’s warm but not hot, which helps your body absorb more of the benefits of its infused botanicals. The best part of the beer bath experience is that there’s no “right” way to enjoy it. Talk and laugh with your partner, sip a local craft beer or non-alcoholic drink, close your eyes, or enjoy some quiet time by yourself.

We could tell you what a beer bath feels like, but the best way to find out is to try it for yourself. Check out everything Oakwell has to offer: Book the Beer Therapy Ritual.