Bathing in wine was a Roman custom. Cleopatra bathed in milk, but why not in beer? Spas across the United States, from the Rockies to Iceland, are catering to what they see as a growing niche: beer lovers who immerse themselves in a bath to revitalize skin and muscles.
At the Beer Spa (Bjórbö’in) in the tiny village of Árskogssandur in Iceland, people lie in a warm bath filled with “young” beer, which is still in the early stages of fermentation. The kambala wood tub is filled with water, brewer’s yeast, hops, water and beer oil. Water and beer salt are included for cleansing hair and skin. The low pH is said to tighten and soften the hair follicles while also cleansing them. Brewer’s yeast is rich in B vitamins, protein, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Beer hops are high in antioxidants and alpha acids, while the oils and minerals have anti-inflammatory effects on joints and muscles.
The new Beer Spa in Denver brings the concept of a beer bath to the United States. Customers can relax in a fizzy beer bath infused with hops, barley and medicinal herbs. The mile-high brewpub is the brainchild of Damien Zouaoui and Jessica French, who traveled the world before dipping into a beer bath in Poland and bringing the concept home. The Beer Therapy Room offers a 90-minute cedar bath infused with an herbal beer bath solution. They claim to have the same effects as their overseas counterparts, up to and including thousands of tiny bubbles that surround your body in a beer-like effervescence. An infrared sauna, rain shower, relaxation deck, and self-drinking taproom are all included in the treatment.
“It felt great, and it smelled like a perfect beer, not a frat house,” said George Lochhead of St. Louis. Louis, who participated in the beer pool after heli-skiing. “And you don’t even have to wash your skin afterwards, it’s that good for your skin. We had a great time guessing whether it was an IPA or lager.”
