My relationship with beer has always been confined to direct consumption but if the services of a small spa in Oregon catch on, beer might soon become equated with external as well as internal pleasures.
Hop in the Spa, located in the small town of Sisters, Oregon, just a short drive northwest of the beer mecca of Bend, is the first spa in the United States to offer services with beer. No, I’m not talking about serving beer to customers while they relax in a traditional spa. I’m referring to actual beer used in place of water and massage oils, elevating the spa experience to new and unique levels.
Spa owner Sally Champa says the addition of beer to an ordinary spa experience not only adds to the relaxation, but it also improves good health due to the medicinal qualities of hops and the minerals present in the average brew. Champa says it’s a great way to experience relaxation like you’ve never felt before and it can even help those with incurable insomnia, turning a night spent tossing and turning into a complete and total Z fest between the sheets.
What are some of the services offered at Hop in the Spa? Here’s a quick rundown:
Microbrew Soak– Delight your senses with a 25 minute bath in a tub filled with craft beer. The added minerals and B vitamins present in microbrew helps improve skin tone and greatly reduce stress.
Hops on the Body– This 45 minute treatment involves enclosing the body in warm, cozy linen sheets that have been pre- treated by steeping them in herbs and hops. While the wrap is in place, guests are treated to a face and scalp massage.
Ale Foot Soak– Have aching feet? Your pain will quickly subside following this 45 minute treatment. Place each foot in a copper bowl filled with craft beer & hops and then eliminate any roughness with a crushed barley and hops foot scrub. The ecstasy reaches its climax with a message using a special hop infused oil which is then applied to the feet and lower legs for long- lasting relaxation.
Brew & Renew Body Polish– A true taste of heaven, this 45 minute treatment involves a body scrub using a mixture of hops, barley, jojoba oil, honey, and salt. The treatment is topped off with a hop oil replenishment applied directly to the skin.
At the moment, Hop in the Spa has an exclusive business relationship with Deschutes Brewery and each spa visit begins with a pint of Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, or another one of Deschutes fine beers (you can also opt for a glass of wine, if you prefer). Then, it’s onward to the tubs, tables, and bowls for the spa treatment you’ve always dreamed about.
Hop in the Spa has received much attention since opening up just a short time ago. Europe is home to many beer spas, so the idea isn’t anything original but it is new to the United States and after chatting with Chief Hoptimism Officer Mike Boyle, the overwhelming interest in Hop in the Spa has led to immediate plans for expansion. The future calls for the addition of a lounge serving hop infused coffee, a beer garden, and a complete line of take- home bath products so that guests can enjoy the one-of-a-kind experience of a beer spa in the comforts of home.
Baths, body massages, and other spa treatments with beer are a novel idea and I admit that, as a beer lover, the idea does have an indulgent, decadent appeal. I will stick with drinking my beer for now, but I can see how such a novel idea could catch on and if things go well, who knows? Beer spas might become the next great trend in vacation travel with pilsners, stouts, and IPA replacing water in spas across the land.
With Hop in the Spa, you truly can have your beer and drink it, too. Check it out the next time you find yourself in the Sisters, Oregon area and tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
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