Dive in and cheers! The “Real Beer Bath®” in Chodovar

In western Czechia, not far from the German border, lies a place where beer is not just drunk, but celebrated with all senses: Chodová Planá. It is the home of the Chodovar family brewery, renowned for its excellent beer and the “Real Beer Bath®”. We took a dip in the beer tub to reveal why this bath is more than just a gimmick.

The term “Real Beer Bath®” (in Czech “Pravá pivní lázeň®”) is not just a general description, but the registered trademark for the beer bath experience offered by the Chodovar family brewery. It is considered one of the first beer spas in the entire Czech Republic and differs from other providers in several key ways.

The Real Beer Bath® is located in the Hotel U Sládka, which is also part of the brewery’s experience concept. You should arrive at the hotel reception about 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment. From there, you head down the stairs into the bathing area located in a vaulted cellar.

Why is the beer bath in Chodovar so special?

The decisive difference compared to other beer baths lies in the ingredients. While many spas use a mixture of warm water and beer extracts (hops, malt, yeast), at Chodovar you bathe in a very special mixture:

• Mineral water: The bath is prepared with the in-house, recognized “Il-Sano®” medicinal water. This water is sourced directly from the spring beneath the brewery cellars.
• Dark Lager: A dose of Chodovar’s unpasteurized dark lager is added directly to the bathwater. This beer is rich in vitamins (especially B vitamins) and active enzymes.
• Live brewer’s yeast cultures: These are known for their positive effects on the skin.
• Hop draff (spent hops): The crushed hop cones provide exfoliation and release their soothing active ingredients.

The bath is heated to a pleasant temperature of approx. 34 °C (93 °F) to stimulate circulation and allow optimal absorption of the ingredients.

How it works!

From the hotel reception, you go down into the historic cellar of the building. You are already expected here and given a large sheet. You wrap yourself in this after undressing and then enter a room.

There are several bathtubs here, which can be separated from each other by curtains. During our beer bath experience, another couple was present. They were assigned the tubs on one side of the cellar, and we went to the other side of the room. The sides of the room were separated by curtains, but the curtains between our own tubs remained open.

Both tubs were already filled. A thick, white, very firm foam floated on the surface. We put aside the sheets and climbed into the tub. As you enter the beer bath, you immediately feel the pleasant warmth of the mineral-rich water on your skin. A mild aroma of beer caresses the nose.

For me, at 1.60m tall, it was like diving into a deep pool. Even when I lay down completely stretched out, my feet didn’t reach the edge of the tub. I could only look over the rim when sitting up. So, if you want to block out the world here, you can truly “submerge”. My only problem was the BEER!

Cheers!

Next to the bathtub on a small table stood my freshly tapped Chodovar beer, which I could drink during the bath. I had to stretch a little to reach the glass.

The bath lasts 20 minutes. It is wonderfully relaxing to lie in the warm, slightly bubbling water, enjoying a sip of beer every now and then and just thinking about nothing. Time just flew by, and all too soon came the request to leave the bath. What a pity…

As wet as you are, you wrap yourself back in the sheet. I would have liked a towel, but the reasoning behind it is understandable. You are then wrapped in a warming blanket on a lounger in a dimly lit relaxation room. The substances from the beer bath still on your skin can thus penetrate through the pores opened by the warmth.

The relaxation phase, granted to the body, lasts 20 minutes—naturally not without enjoying another freshly tapped Chodovar beer. I hadn’t quite finished drinking it when the minutes had already flown by.

A truly great experience that was wonderful and could have lasted much longer.

Other Beer Wellness Offers

Besides the “Real Beer Bath®” experience, the hotel offers other spa treatments.

Hot Draff Pack (Spent Grain Wrap)

We also enjoyed the beer draff pack followed by a partial body massage. While I undressed, the warm draff mass was spread on a plastic sheet. The smell immediately filled the room, which I love—it smelled of brewing, mash, and fresh beer.

After I had placed my upper back almost perfectly on the mass, I was wrapped up warmly. Now I could enjoy the wonderful warmth on my skin for about 20 minutes.

Afterward, it was time to shower off, followed by a pleasant massage.

The Real Hop Bath (Original Hop Bath)

This variation focuses on the calming properties of hops. In naturopathy, hops are known for their antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and calming effects. This bath is therefore particularly suitable for guests who specifically want to reduce stress and soothe skin irritations. The procedure and price are identical to the Real Beer Bath.

Beer Bath Therapy with Cannabis

As a modern interpretation of the classic bath, this application combines traditional beer ingredients with the relaxing properties of cannabis extracts.

Real Beer Bath® – Beer & Salt

Here, the world of beer wellness merges with the principles of classic balneotherapy. The addition of salt has a cleansing and nourishing effect and can additionally smooth the skin.

Prices (As of 2025)

Treatment	Duration	Description & Inclusions	Price per Person (CZK)	Price for 2 Persons (CZK)
Real Beer Bath®	20 min. bath + 20 min. rest	Bath in mineral water, beer, hops & yeast, incl. 2 x 0.3l beer	750	1500 (Double tub)
Real Hop Bath	20 min. bath + 20 min. rest	Bath focused on hops, incl. 2 x 0.3l beer	750	1500 (Double tub)
Beer Bath Therapy with Cannabis	20 min. bath + 20 min. rest	Beer bath with cannabis extracts, incl. 2 x 0.3l beer	750	1500 (Double tub)
Real Beer Bath® – Beer & Salt	20 min. bath + 20 min. rest	Beer bath with added salt, incl. 2 x 0.3l beer	750	1500 (Double tub)
Hot Pack with Draff	20 min.	Warming and nourishing body pack with brewer’s draff	400	N/A

The Real Beer Bath® in Chodovar is far more than a tourist attraction. It is a well-thought-out wellness concept. The combination of warm mineral water, real beer, and the unique atmosphere in the vaulted cellar ensures deep relaxation that you can still feel hours later. An absolute must for anyone visiting the Czech beer country and looking for a special kind of timeout.

Good to know

Visitor Information

Address

Hotel U Sládka / Pivovar Chodovar
Pivovarská 107
348 13 Chodová Planá
Tschechien

The stay took place in cooperation with Czech Tourism Germany.