What's the point of a Beer Spa?

A beer spa uses warm water infused with hops, malted barley, and brewer’s yeast, which are rich in B vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants. These ingredients can nourish skin and hair, support circulation, ease muscle tension, and promote deep relaxation, helping many guests feel calmer and sleep better. The practice draws on long-standing European bathing traditions that combined herbal infusions with hydrotherapy.

How does the Beer Spa work?

A typical session begins with a private soak in a warm bath infused with hops, malt, and brewer’s yeast. The heat helps open pores while the botanicals contact the skin. After the bath is drained, guests often rest or receive a massage using hop- or barley-based oils to extend the benefits. The bath liquid is not alcoholic beer for drinking; some venues serve a separate beverage alongside the treatment.

Where did beer spas originate, and how did the tradition develop over time?

Beer bathing has roots in Central and Eastern Europe, where brewers and bathhouses used warm herbal infusions and byproducts of brewing for skin and relaxation. Over time, folk remedies and monastic brewing knowledge blended with regional balneotherapy practices. Modern beer spas emerged in countries like the Czech Republic and Austria and later spread across Europe and North America as wellness and beer tourism grew.

What ingredients were traditionally used in beer baths, and what were they believed to do?

Traditional beer baths feature warm water with hops (calming, anti-inflammatory polyphenols), malted barley (skin-conditioning sugars and minerals), and brewer’s yeast (B vitamins and amino acids). These components were believed to soften skin, soothe sore muscles, support circulation, and encourage relaxation, echoing the herbal bathing practices common in European spa culture.

History of Beer Spas & Where to Bathe in Beer Today

Beer baths have been around for over a thousand years, but many people have yet to try this must-try bucket list spa treatment. So how did beer spas come to be? Below, we’ll discuss the history of beer spas, including where they started, where you can take beer baths, and a one-of-a-kind beer spa experience in Colorado.

History of Beer Spas: Where It All Started

While beer spas have evolved over time, they’ve been a part of Eastern European culture for centuries. There are several stories about the history of beer spas, but it’s believed that the first beer bath recorded dates back over a thousand years ago, to 921.

It’s said that King Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), loved “cold brewery sludge baths.” His servants would prepare him cold brewery baths with wort from the nearby abbeys.

For centuries, not only has beer been a drink of choice for relaxation, but it’s also been used as a topical treatment for wellness benefits. Using yeast and other beer ingredients like hops and barley on the skin can help decrease wrinkles, release toxins in the body, moisturize the skin, and nourish hair. Hops also have sedative effects that promote relaxation and better sleep – which is why many love to drink a cold beer after a long day!

The first modern beer spa opened in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, in 1981. Chateau Spa Beerland is an incredibly popular beer spa, meaning you can take a therapeutic bath infused with beer ingredients while also drinking beer. Chateau Spa Beerland now has six locations in the Czech Republic.

Beer Spas Today: Different Locations & Experiences

Today, you can find many beer spas in the Czech Republic, especially in Prague. These beer spas offer a beer-infused bath experience and are mostly party-oriented, where friends get together for a good time.

In recent years, beer spas have also expanded into other countries, especially those in Europe. You can find beer spas in several countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), Iceland, Belgium, France, and the United States – with these spas being some of the most notable:

The Norfolk Mead - The first beer spa in the UK located inside an elegant boutique hotel (Norfolk, UK)
Bjorbodin Beer Spa - A beer spa along Iceland’s rugged east coast with stunning views of mountains and Hrísey Island (Litli-Árskógssandur, Iceland)
Bath & Barley - A beer spa in a medieval cellar where guests can create their own beer mixture for a customized beer bath (Brussels & Bruges, Belgium)
Taaka Beer Spa - France’s first beer spa with locally brewed craft beer and hops-infused lemonade on tap (Strasbourg, France)
Oakwell Beer Spa - A luxurious day spa in Denver with a self-serve taproom, rejuvenating beer bath, and other wellness experiences, including an infrared sauna and zero-gravity massage (Colorado, US)

While all beer spas offer a bath experience with beer ingredients, they’re each unique with different types of bathtubs, beer, and atmospheres. Some offer more party vibes, and others focus more on relaxation.

While beer baths used to be taken in cold water, beer baths today are typically warm water infused with beneficial beer ingredients.

The spa room with beer bath and rain shower at Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver — *Beer Therapy Room at Oakwell Beer Spa*

Oakwell Beer Spa in Colorado: A Modern-Day Beer Spa

Oakwell Beer Spa in Colorado is the first of its kind. It's a modern-day spa with a self-serve taproom and luxurious spa treatments, including Beer Bath Hydrotherapy, Infrared Sauna, and Zero Gravity Massage.

The original Oakwell Beer Spa opened in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood in 2021. It’s now expanding to Highlands Ranch in South Denver, with future locations to come.

Oakwell Beer Spa has private spa suites known as Beer Therapy Rooms – each with a cedar bathtub, rain shower, and infrared sauna. Each room accommodates two people, with the option to book multiple rooms for larger groups. Rooms can also be joined via a garage door that opens up.

The self-serve taproom is the perfect space to relax with cozy furniture and refreshing beverages, including craft beer, wine, tea, cider, and kombucha. You can also enjoy your drinks during your spa session in the Beer Therapy™ Room.

Oakwell Beer Spa also has a Relaxation Lounge where you can enjoy a Zero Gravity Massage experience. During a Zero Gravity Massage, you’ll lie back in a chair that uses the latest robotics technology for a hands-off, therapeutic massage.

History of Beer Spas: Conclusion

Beer spas are one of the most memorable and unique wellness experiences that date back over a thousand years. Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver is a modern-day beer spa where you can relax and create an unforgettable memory with friends, family, or a significant other.

Whether you’re a local or planning a spa vacation, we hope to see you soon! Explore packages and book your spa day online.