Photo courtesy of Joey Held.
Beer spas are wildly popular in Europe, but you don’t need to travel across the ocean to visit one—just head to Waco for a unique brewing experience.
When someone mentions Waco, what pops into your head? Chip and Joanna Gaines (and their fancy castle)? Baylor University? The Waco siege? Whatever it is, something you probably don’t think of is a beer spa.
Yet, in the heart of Waco lies Pivovar Spa, a hotel, restaurant, and brewery with Czech roots. Pivovar pairs that European and Texas flavor with a unique experience in the form of its beer spa, an hour-long soak in some suds while sipping on the finest Czech brew imports.
A friend and I recently spent a day gallivanting around Waco. We couldn’t think of a better way to unwind than by jumping—or, more accurately, gingerly stepping—into the beer spa to see what it was all about.
What is a beer spa?
When I tell people about going to a beer spa, one of their first questions is something like, “Wait, do you drink the beer you’re bathing in?” I am fairly sure a business would be immediately shut down if it offered such a scenario. Instead, you bathe in hot water mixed with ingredients used in beer, such as yeast, hops, and barley. Any beer you drink is served separately.
It’s unknown when exactly the first beer bath was. There were likely some beer baths in the Middle Ages, and many men have become patron saints of brewing over the years. However, the trend of beer spas the general public could attend seemed to first develop in the 1980s.
Beer spas are exceptionally popular in Czechia, home to multiple Wenceslases who have been patron saints among Bohemian and Czech brewers. In fact, Pivovar in Waco is the second beer spa I’ve been to; the first was in the country’s capital, Prague.
Benefits of a beer spa
Though bathing with beer ingredients has been around for centuries, folks probably didn’t do it for any particular health benefit. But they still likely experienced good results.
Malted grains and yeast are high in Vitamin B, which can help increase skin hydration and elasticity, and antioxidants aid in hair and nail nourishment. Meanwhile, hops boast antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The combo of ingredients cleanses pores, reduces wrinkles and creates a feeling of freshness.
Like relaxing in the hot tub, a beer spa can also improve blood circulation, lower stress levels, and relieve tense or sore muscles. Pivovar claims drinking beer while in the spa also promotes relaxation.
With that, my friend and I were ready to hop into the tubs!
Photo courtesy of Joey Held.
What’s the Waco Pivovar Beer Spa like?
Pivovar’s spa is a combination of beer and an herbal beer mixture. When we arrived, the ingredients of hops, brewer’s yeast, and malted barley were already in the tub, so I just had to set the tub to my desired level. That means just high enough that it seemed like everything would spill out when I got in, but not actually that high (because cleaning up a mess of water on the floor is no fun).
We ordered a pair of beer flights. There are several options, such as wine and cheese boards, so you can have a full feast if your heart desires. I was also tickled to see the beers nestled on a wooden tray you can attach to the tub, so you don’t have to worry about holding a glass—very fortunate for a clumsy person like me.
The tubs are copper, with two per room. I’m a tall fella and found I still had a decent amount of room to stretch out. As for the actual spa experience, it feels like having your own private hot tub. The bubbles gurgle around you while relaxing music plays, making for quite a soothing bath. It’s easy to lean back and soak everything in (literally and figuratively). The beer flight included four varieties, an excellent way to sample what the brewery has in store.
The room includes towels, robes, a shower, and a bathroom for easy changing or undressing. Since the beer spa’s odor can linger for quite some time after the bath ends, the spa recommends going without swimwear. Either way, it’s worth taking a rinse before you head out and washing any clothing as soon as you get home.
Photo courtesy of Joey Held.
How does Pivovar differ from a Czech beer spa?
When I visited Prague, several locals told me that beer is cheaper than water. Perhaps that’s why the Prague spas go heavy on the beer. I went to the Original Beer Spa, which has both beer and wine-bathing experiences.
In Prague, you get two glass mugs and two beer taps right next to your tub, one for light beer and one for dark. You can drink as much as you want, a feature that is both lovely and dangerous. The spa also offers complimentary bread and cheese, which helped soak up some of the beer. The drinks at Pivovar are not bottomless and are an extra cost.
In Prague, the bathing vessels are wooden barrels instead of copper tubs. From an aesthetic standpoint, I think the barrels look cooler. Once you’re actually in the tubs, you’re mostly surrounded by water and the beer ingredients, so there’s not much difference in feel.
A wonderful final touch: Prague’s Original Beer Spa provides a straw bed for relaxing. I’ve never slept on a straw bed—and I guess I still haven’t because I only spent about five minutes on this one—but I was impressed by how comfortable and soft that bed was and certainly could have taken a snooze with more time.
Other need-to-know info
While a beer spa is typically a relaxing experience, it’s not for everyone. If you’re pregnant, allergic to any beer ingredients, or have high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or Celiac disease, Pivovar recommends consulting your doctor before booking. Arrive five minutes before your reserved time to ensure you enjoy your entire experience. I also appreciated that the attendant—who leaves the room after an intro—set a timer to go off when there were ten minutes left so we could have enough time to wrap up and change.
It’s worth noting the price below is for a room with two baths. Even if you go solo, you pay the total room cost, so inviting a friend or partner can help lower the price. The food and drink are add-ons, too; only a glass bottle of water comes included with your reservation.
Interested in checking out Pivovar for yourself? Make a reservation here.
Location: 320 S 8th St
Hours: 11 am – 9 pm, Tuesday – Sunday
Pricing: $200 (plus tax and tips) for the room, beer flights, and food start at $17 apiece
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
