The Surprising Wellness Trend Based on Beer

Beer spas have recently opened in Iceland, Spain and the U.S. – but they take their cue from an older tradition in a country with a long history as a beer bastion: the Czech Republic.

The stained-glass image of one of the greatest scientists in history – 16th-Century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe – looked down on a modern-day beer bather as he prepared to jump into a giant 1,000-litre water-filled oak tub. Assisting was Nikola Skypalova, who was holding big wooden ladles brimming with key elements to add into the water.

"This is hops – it relieves stress from your body and also opens up your pores," she said, pouring it into the tub. "And this is brewer's yeast, which has a lot of vitamin B, and makes you look younger."

In it went, along with malt – another well-being booster.

This happened at Chateau Spa Beerland, one of the grandest beer spas in the Czech Republic – the nation that gave birth to this idiosyncratic modern wellness trend in the 1980s. Located in an elegant, chandeliered national heritage building named U Zlaté Hrušky (At The Golden Pear) in Prague, this is where Tycho Brahe lived and worked beginning in 1599. Today, its beer spa rooms offer eye-catching decorative touches ranging from stained-glass windows to astronomical murals.

Next to the tub was a giant bed of straw, which provides a traditional Czech complement to the hoppy hot tub experience. After bathing, the prickly bed aims to further stimulate the skin via the roughness of the straw – the same way Nordic sauna enthusiasts might hit their skin with twigs – and also, perhaps, provide a sense of getting closer to something natural.

Skypalova rounded off the beer bath with several ladles of beer. Not just any old beer, mind you – this was unfiltered premium Czech beer which, because it still contains its full complement of key ingredients like yeast, is a more "alive" form, retaining qualities such as high vitamin levels. And the Czechs know their beer; this is a nation that consumes nearly twice as much per capita as the world's second-most beer-loving nation, Austria.

In case you think pouring premium beer into a bath is a waste, handy taps dispensing an endless supply of the stuff beckoned beside the tub.

A wellness trend going global

Proponents of the experience believe compounds in the bubbling brew of the bath are good for your skin, relieve muscle stress and improve circulation. The hoppy aromas, meanwhile, are reputed to promote relaxation and boost mood. And the pleasing novelty of this wellness trend is now seeing beer spas opening across the world.

There have been recent openings in Iceland and Spain; while BierBath, which opened in late 2023 near Baltimore, follows the 2021 opening of Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver. This year will also see the opening of the first beer spa in the UK at The Norfolk Mead in the east of England.

The concept's growing international popularity is due to the opportunity it provides to unite two popular sources of pleasure: spa relaxation and beer – with the bonus of a cool European cachet. Eliza Oakden, spa manager at The Norfolk Mead, offers another reason for the growing global appearance of beer spas. "Spas tend to appeal more to women, so we thought this would attract both men and couples." 

There may, however, be a stronger case on the wellbeing side. "Beer consists of three components that are beneficial to skin: malted cereal grains, yeast and hops," says Dr. Cindy Jones, a biochemist at Colorado Aromatics. "Both malted grains and yeast contain B vitamins, which increase skin hydration and elasticity, and decrease hyperpigmentation.

Hops, in particular, are rich in xanthohumul and humulone – the first a powerful antioxidant showing anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, the second an antibacterial with promising skin-healing properties. Studies have also found hop extracts may decrease anxiety, mild depression and stress. Hops' long history in folk medicine as a sleep aid is also being backed up by science.

"And hops are getting more scientific attention recently for skin care," Jones continued, "It can increase collagen production to decrease wrinkles as well as decrease inflammation of the skin." Global brewing giant Carlsberg decided to tap into the beer cosmetic trend when it launched a Beer Beauty line in 2015, backed by a witty promotional video. In the Czech Republic, beauty firm Manufaktura now has an expanding array of shops across the nation selling a diverse range of products, including bath salts containing hops and barley extracts.

But using those for a bath at home won't come with unlimited premium beer or delicious beer bread or a chance to lie on a bed of straw – and its these things that make beer spas a truly quirky experience. 

EDITOR’S TAKE:

I’m curious if any of you have experienced a beer spa? I for one have not. Typically, I prefer my beer on the inside of my body to create that relaxed, stimulating sensation. But according to this article, there’s a lot more that can be gained by simultaneously having beer embrace the outside of your body. Better skin, more collagen, fewer wrinkles – boy do I need to spend some time soaking in beer! The part about lying in straw afterwards reminds me of our high school keggers in a wheat field. Anyway, this may be a way to expand markets for the ingredients in beer. Maybe a boon to those farmers who raise the ingredients and provide them with more income to purchase trucks. So, bottom line, keep an eye on this trend and keep your truck inventory posted on AgTruckTrader.com® in case this trend really takes off!