In case you would have requested me 5 years in the past if I ever envisioned myself willingly soaking in a bathtub stuffed with beer, I might have mentioned HELL NO.
I do not actually like alcohol, and am not a lot of a drinker basically. However I’ve the largest aversion to beer. Past the slight carbonation in beer, I sort of hate every part about it. I do not just like the style, and I particularly do not just like the scent; I am exceedingly glad my husband prefers whisky, as a result of beer breath? BLECH.
So think about my shock, then, that I am scripting this publish telling you all about a beer spa expertise in Prague that I LOVED.
What’s a beer spa?
Initially, what the heck is a beer spa? Properly, a beer spa is just like another sort of spa that folks go to for rest and coverings – besides {that a} beer spa consists of beer! A number of beer.
Most beer spas all over the world have an identical set-up: you reserve a time to go to, and get to get pleasure from a personal therapy room that features a tub or small scorching tub that’s partially full of beer and beer elements together with scorching water.
Soaking in this stuff – like hops and barley and brewers yeast – is meant to be nice in your pores and skin (and maybe even your general well being).
And naturally each beer spa comes a limiteless quantity of beer so that you can drink whilst you soak!
The historical past of beer spas
Based on a number of beer spa web sites, the custom of soaking in a beer tub (or a shower together with beer elements) isn’t a brand new one, and originated in Central Europe. It is mentioned that beer baths date again to no less than the 900s, when King Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia, would take baths in wort (the byproduct of the mashing course of throughout beer brewing).
The primary business beer spa claims to be The First Beer Spa Beerland within the spa city of Karlovy Range within the Czech Republic, which first opened in 1981.
The Czech Republic consumes extra beer per capita than another nation on the planet, and gave the world the pilsner. So whereas the beer spa idea has unfold far and extensive now all over the world, it is nonetheless the most well-liked within the Czech Republic the place all of it started.
When Elliot and I have been planning our 3 days in Prague, I made a decision we must always take a look at out considered one of these beer spas for ourselves. (Truthfully I am nonetheless shocked I used to be the one to recommend this, however I am keen to do a variety of seemingly bizarre issues for a great story!)
Beer spa choices in Prague
In case you’re inquisitive about going to a beer spa, Prague is totally the spot to attempt one for the primary time. Prague isn’t solely a superb beer metropolis (well-known for having “beer cheaper than water” – which is definitely true in case you’re evaluating it to bottled water), however it additionally has fairly just a few totally different beer spas to select from.
The 4 important beer spa chains in Prague are:
- Beer Spa Beerland – With areas everywhere in the Czech Republic, this was the primary beer spa to open in Prague. They now have two areas in Prague with totally different therapy room choices, and serve each a darkish and lightweight Czech Krušovice beer on-tap in every room. (Book here or here)
- Authentic Beer Spa – This beer spa chain has three totally different areas round Prague (two within the New City, and one within the Outdated City). They’ve a pair totally different spa room choices, and likewise serve each a darkish and lightweight Czech Krušovice beer on-tap to friends. (Book here)
- Bernard Beer Spa – They’ve a number of areas round central Prague, and serve Bernard Beer, a conventional unpasteurized Czech beer. Together with beer spa choices, you can even e book massages right here. (Book here)
- Lázně Pramen – They’ve two totally different spas, with Lázně Pramen Letná being the most recent and largest. They not solely supply beer spas serving Kynšperský Zajíc beer, but additionally wine spa experiences (full with wine to drink as a substitute of beer), and the possibility to calm down in a salt cave after your soak. (Book here)
All the beer spas in Prague supply actually related experiences. You’ll be able to rely on a therapy room that resembles a comfortable cellar, giant oak scorching tubs to soak in, beer on faucet, and straw beds to calm down on after your soak. Some supply further extras like saunas, however the fundamental expertise will not differ an excessive amount of!
Elliot and I booked the Authentic Beer Spa on Žitná avenue within the New City, which was inside a brief stroll from our lodge.
Who goes to a beer spa?
Let me be clear: beer spas in Prague exist nearly 100% for vacationers. You are not prone to discover many locals right here, and in case you’re merely trying to drink low cost beer in Prague, a beer spa is not the place to do it.
In any other case, it is ideally suited for {couples} or small teams of mates. Some beer spas do permit youngsters beneath 18 (18 is the authorized consuming age within the Czech Republic); you simply must verify FAQs, or contact them to ask (Bernard Beer Spa and Beer Spa Beerland undoubtedly permit children).
Elliot and I did this as a {couples} exercise, and it was a lot enjoyable!
Going to a Prague beer spa: What to anticipate
Okay, now to the beer spa expertise itself! Here is every part it is advisable find out about what to anticipate:
Reserving a beer spa
You’ll be able to e book all the beer spas listed above on-line upfront – and also you undoubtedly DO wish to e book upfront, as most spas solely have a handful of therapy rooms, they usually usually promote out. I booked our beer spa about 2 days upfront, however you may in fact e book additional out.
How a lot does a beer spa value?
Costs differ relying on the spa and what sort of room and tub setup you e book (for instance, it is cheaper in case you share one tub between two individuals). You are undoubtedly paying for the entire expertise at a beer spa, although, and it isn’t low cost!
Some pattern costs (these are totals for two individuals):
- 2 individuals sharing 1 tub for 1 hour in a fundamental room: 2700 CZK ($120 USD)
- 2 individuals in 2 tubs for 1 hour in a fundamental room: 3300 CZK ($145 USD)
- 2 individuals sharing 1 tub in an upgraded room: 3400 CZK ($150 USD)
- 2 individuals in 2 tubs in an upgraded room: CZK 4,000 ($175 USD)
Costs embrace time to soak within the beer tubs, limitless beer to drink straight from your individual non-public faucet(s), often some type of snack like beer bread, and a straw mattress to calm down on afterwards.
Elliot and I booked the “Beerland” room on the Authentic Beer spa, which had 3 wood tubs it in (we solely used 2 of them) together with a personal hops sauna and enormous double bathe space. Our whole value was round $185 for an hour on the beer spa.
Arrival on the beer spa
Arrival to a beer spa is like arriving at most another spa. You will verify in at some type of entrance desk in a foyer space that often has some beer-related skincare merchandise on the market. Most may even have an open faucet in case you arrive early and wish to get began consuming immediately!
When you’re all checked in, you may then be led to your non-public therapy room. (As a result of sure, all the bathtub rooms are non-public; you will not must share the area with anybody outdoors your group.)
The attendant who takes you to your room will clarify the timing of every part, and can prep your scorching tubs for you. Then they will set a timer so you may preserve monitor of your time, and go away you to get modified and begin your spa expertise.
Soaking in a beer scorching tub
So do you actually soak in beer? Sure and no. The recent tubs are crammed principally with scorching water. After which a combination of just a little little bit of beer, hops, and brewer’s yeast is added into the water earlier than the jets are turned on.
Most beer spas use rectangular oak tubs with wood seats inside that may match 2 individuals, and every scorching tub is inside arm’s attain of the beer faucets – that means you do not have to get out of your tub, even to refill your beer mug!
Do I’ve to put on a swimsuit?
Because you’re in a personal therapy room with simply others in your celebration, clothes/swimwear is elective within the beer scorching tubs. I select to put on a swimsuit principally as a result of I knew we would be taking some pictures so I may write this publish, however many of the spas truly suggest bathing nude to completely get all of the pores and skin advantages.
After your beer spa
As soon as the new tub jets cease working (often 20-Half-hour into your appointment), you may proceed sitting within the tub, or you may get out to get pleasure from any of the opposite facilities in your therapy room.
One among these facilities is a mattress body (often giant sufficient for two individuals) full of free straw.
I actually cannot discover any clarification of WHY beer spas supply straw beds, or whether or not individuals truly have a tendency to put on them. To me, this was simply odd and by no means inviting (although the Authentic Beer Spa does no less than present sheets to put on on prime of the straw if you would like).
Since we had paid for an upgraded room, we additionally had entry to a personal hop sauna, and a big double bathe area that had oak buckets full of chilly water hanging from the ceiling in case you needed some chilly immersion after your scorching soak (however the showers additionally had common scorching water).
It is truly beneficial that you simply not bathe with cleaning soap for no less than 12 hours after this therapy for all of the pores and skin advantages – however you may undoubtedly no less than wish to rinse the hops and malt residue off earlier than you get modified.
And naturally, the beer faucets stay on all through your entire session.
Am I going to scent like beer?
Bear in mind how I mentioned I do not even just like the scent of beer? My greatest concern earlier than this expertise was that the room was going to scent like beer, and that I would go away smelling like beer. However guess what? Neither of these issues occurred!
Since you’re principally soaking in water and beer *elements,* there’s actually no robust beer scent within the therapy rooms. (It additionally helps that beer spas should not situated at breweries, so there is no permeating scent of fermentation round.)
There’s clearly beer concerned on this expertise since you may drink as a lot as you need, however I used to be so pleasantly shocked to search out that nothing smelled too strongly of beer. (Even my swimsuit did not scent dangerous, although I did rinse it out throughly with some shampoo.)
Is a beer spa for me?
In case you’ve learn this far and nonetheless are uncertain whether or not that is an exercise that you simply’d get pleasure from… then perhaps it is not. However I will be trustworthy: I went into my beer spa anticipating to only get some content material for a weblog publish (and that perhaps that weblog publish could be about how I actually did not get pleasure from it), however I ended up having a lot enjoyable!
Going to a beer spa is certainly a novel expertise. It isn’t low cost (particularly in a spot like Prague the place beer IS actually low cost), however I personally would nonetheless suggest it!
What if I do not drink beer?
Hear, I do not drink beer. In any respect. Any picture you see of me holding a beer is simply that: a photograph of me holding a beer. (Don’t be concerned, although; Elliot drank all of the beer we poured!)
You do not HAVE to drink beer to get pleasure from going to a beer spa. Certain, you may get worth for cash in case you do drink beer, however it’s not a requirement for enjoyment.
Not less than one beer spa in Prague truly provides a combo beer spa + wine spa, the place you may soak in (and drink) wine as a substitute of beer. This feature consists of one beer tub and one wine tub, which might be good for a pair the place considered one of you would not love beer! (Book this option here)
So what do you assume? Would you check out a beer spa in Prague?
