It’s 11:45 a.m. on a Wednesday, and I’m (willingly) lying on a bed of straw. It’s the last step in a three-part, hour-long circuit at The Beer Spa in Orlando, Florida, a wellness spot in an unassuming strip mall that mirrors similar facilities in the Czech Republic. My skin feels softer than it has in weeks, but I can’t tell if the relaxation I’m feeling is from soaking in a warm bath filled with ingredients you usually find in a fermentation tankor from the all-you-can-sip taps of local brews.

Owner Barbara Corzo was inspired to open The Beer Spa after she and her husband embarked on a trip to Europe with friends, where they encountered a traditional beer spa in Prague. “I was immediately impressed and loved the experience so much, we quickly announced to our group this was coming to Orlando with me,” she recalls. It wasn’t all beer and roses, though, as the pandemic delayed the opening of her passion project by three years. In June of 2021 they finally opened their doors to curious Florida spa-goers.

When I arrived for my experience, I entered a lobby filled with brew-themed merchandise and beer taps, in case I was thirsty for a pre-treatment pint. After check-in the receptionist escorted me to one of two treatment rooms, where on the door a personalized sign with my name welcomed me. Once inside, I was given the rundown for my time there. I was instructed to soak for 30 minutes in the wooden Jacuzzi tub, which was filled with warm water, barley, hops and yeast (and not, as you might expect, actual beer). These ingredients are touted for their antioxidant properties as well as their ability to relax sore muscles, treat psoriasis and cellulite, make skin smoother and (ironically) detoxify the body. Afterward, I was encouraged to stay in the infrared sauna for 10–15 minutes and then finish by relaxing on a straw bed.

© The Beer Spa

Once left to my own devices, I disrobed in the private bathroom and took a peek at my liquid options. The Beer Spa fills its taps with three brews from local Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company: Bungalow Belgian Witbier, Park Hopp’r Golden Pilsner and Joyland American IPA. If suds aren’t your thing, you can upgrade your package to include organic Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon. I poured myself a pint of the Witbier, submerged myself in the tub and grabbed some beer bread, pretzel rods and cheese to nibble on.

While I soaked, I looked around at the room. It definitely had the luxurious-meets-rustic, Old-World-meets-New-World vibe Corzo was going for, with brick walls, modern colors and an industrial feel. Music was playing from the flat-screen television; if I wanted to, I could have connected via Bluetooth to stream a Spotify playlist.

Truly, I could have stayed in that tub the entire hour. I remained a bit longer than recommended since I’m not a sauna person and knew I wouldn’t last more than a few minutes. I was right.

© The Beer Spa

After getting incredibly overheated in the span of four minutes, the cool white sheets on top of the straw bed felt way better than I thought they would. (In traditional Czech beer spas, guests often lie directly on the straw, an itchy thought I dared not imagine.) All too soon the unique experience was over, but not before I swilled a few refreshing sips of the pilsner.

Since its opening, The Beer Spa has proved wildly popular. Each treatment room can accommodate up to four adults and draws in couples, friends and family groups. (If you’re booking with one of the latter two options, you might want to bring bathing suits. Or not. You do you.) Package add-ons include 30 minutes additional time in the room, celebration décor setup for anniversaries or birthdays, unlimited wine, bottles of wine and carafes of sangria. Though there are a few similar spas popping up around the country, right now none of them offers beer taps inside your private rooms — only in the lobby.

When I left, I felt happy and hoppy, and my skin felt incredible for days. Do you have to be a beer aficionado to enjoy The Beer Spa? Not at all. Will you get more sudsy enjoyment out of the hour if you are? Absolutely. As Corzo says, “We want this to be an experience enjoyed not only by beer lovers but anyone with a desire to try something new.”