Popularised in the Czech Republic, a preponderance of beer baths has bubbled across northern Europe over recent years, and this quirky wellness trend has now spread into the US psyche. Many of these brew-led soaks sprouting up around the world are housed in luxurious retreats and combine other forms of relaxation or cultural attractions to offer memorable and rewarding experiences.

Intrepid souls willing to experiment with their cleansing routine – who perhaps overcame an initial scepticism about submerging into a wooden tub of beer-infused water to try this novel, mood-lifting bathing experience – have emerged converted. For the uninitiated, you don’t actually luxuriate in freshly poured beer, but invitingly heated water mixed with the ingredients used in the brewing process.

Famous high-profile converts to the joys of having a bath with a new twist are singing its praises. The former Mad Men star January Jones, a popular beauty influencer, has said she empties a glass of beer to her bathtub – along other “questionable things” – as a good way to hydrate the body. Apparently, she took inspiration from Cleopatra in her decision to experiment with her bathtime routine. This self-made beer bath was the final part of a four-pronged process to boost her mood and replenish the skin.

Helpful hops

Recent scientific research suggests that bathing in beer-making constituents has real therapeutic benefits and is not just another cosmetic fad. American biochemist and cosmetic scientist Dr Cindy Jones affirms that malted cereal grains, yeast and hops contained in beer can be beneficial to the skin. Speaking to the BBC, she highlights that both malt and yeast contain all-important B vitamins, which are crucial in increasing skin hydration and elasticity, and decreasing hyperpigmentation. She also notes that hops can stimulate collagen production, which works to reduce wrinkles, as well as soothe inflammation.

Some scientific studies have indicated the potential of malt and beer-related by-products as effective antioxidant skin-lightening agents in cosmetics. Beyond these superficial beauty benefits, hops extracts have also been shown to relieve anxiety, depression and stress.

Taking the plunge

The benefits of beer baths gleaned from beer-guzzling countries like Czechia inspired Juan Sánchez to establish Beer Spa, a plethora of centres dotted around Spain where clients linger happily in barrel-like tubs. The wellness entrepreneur boasts a background in balneotherapy, a method of treating disease by bathing in thermal waters that has been practised for many centuries to cure chronic skin and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Spanish beer baths are prepared with brewer’s yeast, hops powder extract and barley seed extract powder, alongside a natural stimulant in the form of cinnamon. Potential benefits cited focus primarily on skin rejuvenation and joint pain. Beer Spa suggests that the high silicon content of hops is crucial in helping unclog the pores and also aids in overall vitality, while vitamin B in brewer’s yeast has outstanding beneficial properties for the skin.

Indeed, the list of benefits implied from soaking in a bath spiced with this unique combination of natural ingredients is as long as your limb. Aside from stimulating the metabolism, a beer bath is said to prevent the formation of wrinkles; prevent and combat sagging; relax muscle tension; reduce stress; aid in the renewal of skin cells; help to improve blood circulation; promote the elimination of toxins from the body; and provide an infusion of vitamins, saccharides and proteins. It is also an auxiliary treatment for back and joint pain and increases the heart rate.

Furthermore, they state a beer spa will improve the condition of the skin in cases of psoriasis, acne and cellulite. In summation, the ritual is a way to regenerate the body and mind, and by reducing fatigue and stress, it ensures physical and mental rest.

French bubbles

The Spanish beer spa story has been replicated in other parts of Europe, notably France and the UK, where the concept of taking such baths would probably have been mocked a few years ago. The Taaka Beer Spa in Strasbourg, a pioneer in France, has been piquing the curiosity of the French since opening in 2022. Co-founder Naomie Crawshaw says significant numbers of locals have indulged in the novel experience, and many see it as a stimulating way to embrace the region’s beer culture.

Continuous bubbling of the bath water promotes the dissolution of the beer ingredients, releasing nutrients including carbohydrates and proteins. Sessions are held in whirlpool baths each designed for two people with four tubs located in a single room, and they stop when the bubbles come to an end. Taaka points to a host of benefits derived from the process, noting that brewer’s yeast is packed with vitamins and is great for the hair, nails and skin, while the natural antiseptic and bactericidal properties of hops help to cleanse, soften and smooth the skin.

Clients are made aware that bathing in beer itself would be bad for the skin and result in an unpleasant sticky sensation. Indeed, filling the tubs with ale amounting to 300 litres in capacity would be a waste of good beer. To slake thirsts and heighten the merriment of being immersed, Jacuzzi-like, in comforting hot water, draft brews are available on tap next to your tub.

For the ultimate in communal bathing, Taaka’s L’effervescence offer is a must-try cultural wellness experience catering to tub parties of more than eight people. Promoted as an unforgettable way to celebrate an anniversary, family gathering or fond farewell, it will surely spark memories that last a lifetime.

Scent of success

It is the smell of hops that percolates the air during these French – and probably most – beer baths, giving off a sublime and appealing aroma of pine, musk and grass. Though there will be some hop residues left on your body after the beer bath, it is recommended not to take a shower immediately afterwards. This way the powerful ingredients of the beer can continuously work on the skin and promote their beneficial hydration and softening effects to the maximum extent.

Belgium’s debut beer-bath spa is Bath & Barley in the beautiful city of Bruges. The added allure here is that guests can personalise their own hops mix to create a tailor-made experience before they relax in the traditional oak bath set at a temperature of 39°C. The hops are harvested by a local farmer and elicit different aromas while evoking similar beneficial effects. Other tempting offerings include an option of a hops sauna and a hot scrub in the tub, plus gourmet food pairings with Belgian beers.

Taking its cue from the success of the antioxidant-rich beer baths on the Continent, the Norfolk Mead hotel near Norwich opened the UK’s first beer bath last summer following a £3.5 million (HK$33.7 million) investment. This expansion of the luxurious Norfolk retreat gives the magnificent complex an extra string to its extensive bow of spa facilities. These span a hydrotherapy pool, rainforest showers, hot tub and cold water therapy, steam room, sauna, foot spa and rasul mud chamber, with 10 therapists on hand to cater to every need. Aside for the usual ingredients, the beer bath contains the hotel’s signature mineral salts, while unlimited in-treatment pours come via the local Woodforde’s Brewery.

Home to heal

For many devotees, the spiritual home of the beer bath is Spa Beerland Prague Hradčany. Registered as a national cultural monument, this historic 17th-century house in Prague was a place of residence of the famous Renaissance astrologer and alchemist Tycho Brahe. The Dane, along with his Czech scientific colleague Tadeáš Hájek, studied the qualities of beer and is thought to be among the first to point to its healing properties.

The stately abode comes with astronomical murals paying tribute to the master, and a stained-glass image of Brahe proudly stares down on spa-goers during their Hradčany bath. Bathers are encouraged to rest on a bed of wheat straw after soaking in the oak tub, as this is thought to promote the absorption deep into the skin of the beneficial minerals and extracts found in the rejuvenating water.