The Beer Spa in Denver, CO
- By Presley Fowler
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- 08 Mar, 2021
So, how did The Beer Spa get to Denver, Colorado? Founders Jessica and Damien traveled the world for a little over a year on a quest for an entrepreneurial business idea they could pursue. While in Zakopane, Poland, they experienced something called a “Beer Spa." It didn’t take much for the pair to realize this was what they wanted to bring back to the states. A lot of hard work and business planning later- The Beer Spa in Denver was born.
You're probably wondering what the experience is like, and that's why I'm here to share everything about our visit to The Beer Spa. Let's talk cost first. It's $89 for one person to take in the hour long experience which includes your own private beer therapy room with a hydrotherapy beer bath, infrared sauna, a rain shower, and $10 worth of beer. If you want to bring a second person it's an additional $30. I view this as a unique gift option or a "treat yourself" day which is well deserved after a long week of work. You can look at their pricing at this link.
Of course the beer bath is the main attraction of The Beer Spa, and you may be thinking why would I hop in a tub filled with beer? Well, let’s clear some things up. The tub is filled with fresh water that has what looks like a large tea bag (see photo below) which is filled with a blend of hops, barley, and herbs. That is what infuses beer-like ingredients into the bath. The water does look like beer with a tint of color and a foamy top due to the hops and barley. But, it's important to note that it is not fermented and there is no yeast in the beer bath. The temperature is 99 degrees fahrenheit which is comfortable and you won't feel like you need to get in and out of the tub like a usual hot tub. There are jets in the tub to soothe your muscles as well. I did get asked if the bath smells like a beer- and my personal opinion is that I smelled the herbs and a little bit of the hops but it wasn't overpowering. The blend of hops, barley, and herbs changes depending on the season and is filled with vitamins, nutrients, and health benefits for skin and hair. The beer bath will have you feeling relaxed, and showering off in the rain shower with their beer-infused bath and body products will leave you refreshed.
Ouray, Colorado is a beautiful destination in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. It’s referred to as the “Switzerland of America” because of the picturesque and sprawling mountain peaks surrounding the town. On your journey up to the “Switzerland of America” look out point off US Highway 550 (known as the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton) you’ll pass by the entrance to the world famous Ouray Ice Park. This is an ice climbing park that people travel from all over the globe to visit. This human-made ice climbing spectacle spans two miles and boasts 150 ice and mixed climbing routes for all skill levels. (Note: please make sure to follow the rules and regulations if you plan to visit).
While planning a trip to Ouray in January 2023, my friend Caroline and I decided we wanted to try a private, half-day guided ice climbing course with a local guide company called Basecamp Ouray. It was founded and is owned by a Ouray local, Logan Tyler. Logan was wonderful to work with when booking the ice climbing course. He answered all of my many questions, and you could hear his passion for sharing climbing with others just through a phone call.
This was only the second time Caroline and I had gone ice climbing, so we were looking for an option that suited our beginner-level climbing skills. Basecamp Ouray offered the perfect choice for us. Here are a few reasons why:
- Trying a new activity can be intimidating. Looking at Basecamp Ouray's website before booking, I was confident in pursuing a course when I read this quote: “We think climbing is for everyone, and has the power to foster authentic community.” Seeing this, I knew Basecamp would welcome us into the climbing community, cheer us on for trying something out of our comfort zone, and squash any imposter syndrome we might feel.
- Basecamp Ouray offers private courses where you receive one-on-one instruction. This is exactly what we wanted after experiencing a larger group ice climbing course the year prior. We were looking for a course where it would just be us and our guide so we could really focus on learning and progressing our skills without the distraction of comparing ourselves to other climbers.
- The guides at Basecamp Ouray are American Mountain Guides Association trained climbing guides with extensive experience. No matter which guide we were paired with, we were assured we’d be in good hands. Our guide was Lindsey Hamm, and she was amazing. She was knowledgable, energetic, and encouraging. We learned so much from Lindsey, which I'll talk about more below.
If you’re looking for a unique, fun-filled, no experience required winter activity in Colorado, look no further than snow tubing! Snow tubing involves sliding down a snow packed mountain in an inner tube (in a controlled environment) and it’s the perfect cold weather event for thrill seekers of all ages.
There are many choices when it comes to tubing hills in Colorado, but the spot closest to Denver is called Echo Mountain. Only about 40 miles away from Denver, Echo Mountain offers skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing at an affordable price point with amazing views of the Continental Divide. Snow tubing at Echo Mountain is truly a blast! This post includes everything you need to know when planning your visit:Making a reservation
Reservations are required so make sure you do this ahead of time! Snow tubing is popular here in Colorado, so you’ll need to plan ahead to find an available date and time. You can make reservations online through this link. The pricing varies depending on weekdays versus weekends/holidays. We went on a weekend and it was $32 per person, which is a great price point for a full hour of endless snow tubing fun! Plus, they have a conveyor lift/magic carpet to get you back up the hill quickly. We were able to tube so much we lost track of how many times we slid down the hill! Reservations start on the hour, so make sure you get there early to get all your layers on and get checked in. For example, our reservation was at 9 a.m. and we got there at 8:30 a.m. which was a good amount of time to get settled in.
Location and getting there
As mentioned, Echo Mountain is fairly close to Denver. But it’s important to map out your drive before you hit the road as the route to Echo Mountain does involve taking a mountain pass (Squaw Pass) which means curves, inclines, and conditions that change with the elevation. The trip from the Denver Metro Area takes about an hour. Make sure you take a vehicle with 4WD or AWD and you have tires with good tread for winter driving. Bring extra water and snacks so you stay hydrated and we’ll fueled. All this being said, the drive is beautiful so get yourself a great playlist ready to go and enjoy the ride!
Celebrating Colorado cuisine is a staple activity for Colorado Checklist. A sense of pure excitement ensues whenever I get the opportunity to try out a new local restaurant, café, or drinkery. I’m always blown away at the variety of options we have to eat local in this state, and the list keeps on growing!
My hometown of Golden, Colorado, provides the perfect occasion to sample the best of the Golden dining scene during Golden Restaurant Week , with a tagline dubbed “Winter Nights, Winter Lights”. This 10-day event, which takes place annually each winter (January 31-February 9, 2020) entails meal specials at dozens of Golden restaurants and snack spots. Just take a look at this impressive list of participants from Visit Golden, which outlines the specials at each establishment.
I highly recommend taking advantage of Golden Restaurant Week for several reasons. First of all, it makes for the perfect date night, which is what my fiancé and I did the first evening of the event this year. The famous holiday lights along Washington Avenue in Downtown Golden remain lit during this event- so you can stroll through town and take in the light displays after your meal. Additionally, this is the time to try that restaurant in Golden you’ve been meaning to visit, because the special offers are deals you can’t get during any other time of the year. And most importantly, eating local supports Colorado small businesses and small business owners. The unique dishes and creative cocktails, the Colorado inspired flavors, and the hard work put in every day from the families and teams who run these joints creates an experience you won’t find at a big box chain.
During our Golden Restaurant Week night out, we ordered the specials from several spots:
1. Miner’s Saloon - a craft cocktail bar with American/Colorado inspired fare in a rustic modern saloon setting. The 2020 Golden Restaurant Week Special is a pick six charcuterie board and a bottle of wine for $40.
2. Old Capitol Grill and Smokehouse - housed in a historic 1863 building where Colorado’s territorial legislature met in the mid-1860s, this restaurant is known for its smoked meats. The 2020 Golden Restaurant Week Special is two entrees and a bottle of wine for $59.95. The entrée options include a steak, chicken, and salmon option.
3. Bella Colibri - an upscale, Italian restaurant in a cozy, intimate setting. Bella Colibri means “beautiful hummingbird” in Italian. The 2020 Golden Restaurant Week Special is a fixed menu where you get an antipasto (appetizer), an entrée, and cannoli dessert for $35 a person.
There are SO many places and offers to try out- so head to Golden soon to taste as many of the delicious plates you can before February 9, 2020! Be sure to mention “Golden Restaurant Week” so they can give you the special menu wherever you go. Bon appetit!
The food hall scene in the Denver Metro Area is booming, and on top of that, the growth of local businesses in Colorado is creating a prime opportunity for new ideas to take off. Downtown Golden is one of the destinations that has become a hot spot for unique venues- from craft breweries, coffee shops and eateries, to its newest addition and first ever food hall called Tributary Food Hall and Drinkery.
What exactly is a food hall? This growing trend takes a large, open space inside a building and turns it into an artisan food court of sorts, offering a wide variety of high-end, local, and delectable fare. For Tributary, the owners envisioned the venue as a gathering place for community members and visitors alike. “For us, the joy of opening restaurants is in creating a space for people to come together. That’s been most true here in Golden—this town, like what we’re trying to build at Tributary—is so much more than the sum of its parts. It’s a place that celebrates the special-ness of the community that comprises it, that's welcoming to all, and that prides itself on being distinct from ‘anytown.’” Tributary’s co-owner, Josh Dinar, said, “That we can be a part of that landscape, and bring all these amazing stories into one place, is a privilege we take very seriously.”
Colorado boasts an overabundance of beautiful, scenic hiking spots across the state. It’s one of the reasons many people visit- and even move here. It’s also one of the reasons I love calling Colorado my home state. We truly live in an outdoor recreation playground year-round! However, when you venture outside, and potentially to a new spot you’ve never explored, it is so important to take responsibility of your own safety. That means being prepared before you go and maintaining a mindset of safety as you trek the trails.
City of Golden Fire Chief, Alicia Welch, says Golden Fire & Rescue responded to 13 hillside and four swift water rescues in 2018- and that is just in the Golden area. In an effort to proactively educate the community about this topic, Golden Fire & Rescue recently hosted a class presented by Colorado Mountain Club called “Introduction to Hiking Safety.” My mom and I attended the course, and we left armed with helpful tips and great knowledge to take on our next hike with safety at the forefront.
First of all, it is important to remember that hiking in Colorado is different than hiking in other states. Colorado has high altitude, elevation gain on trails, dramatic temperature and weather changes including lightning, year-round snow in the mountains, and a variety of wild animals. Now this list shouldn’t scare you off from a wonderful Colorado hike, but rather bring awareness and incite preparation before you hike. Colorado Mountain Club instructors Art and Tom broke the course into sections including what to do before you go, once you get to the trailhead, and on the trail. Here are my top takeaways from each section:
- Before you go : Check the weather forecast. Make sure you have a good hiking backpack that is equipped with everything you might need on the trail. This includes lots of water, healthy snacks, a compass and trail map, personal identification, and the proper clothing you may need if any weather moves in. During this course, you’ll learn about the “10 Essentials” you’ll want to make sure you have in your pack. Also, make sure you let someone know that you are going on a hike, and give them an estimated time of when you will return home.
- At the trailhead : Put on sunscreen, hydrate, note the time you start, and make sure to read any information posted at the trailhead kiosk.
- On the trail : Be on the lookout for trail markers and stay within the path of the trail. Every 15 minutes make sure you turn around and take note of the landscape and geography around you. Stay hydrated. Watch the weather around you. If you are climbing a 14-er, be off the summit and ridges by noon to avoid lightning.
In this course, you’ll also learn tips for staying safe if an electrical storm suddenly hits, pointers on what to do if you get lost, and how to avoid danger if you have a run-in with a wild animal. The goal of this blog post is to encourage you to attend one of the many courses offered by Colorado Mountain Club as well as Golden Fire & Rescue. You can stay up to date on upcoming courses by checking out CMC’s website and Golden Fire & Rescue’s Facebook page. Special thanks to Golden Fire Chief Alicia Welch and her team at the Golden Fire Department, as well as the awesome CMC instructors, Art and Tom. Educate yourself before you go, and enjoy the beauty and serenity of Colorado’s hiking scene!
If you plan to visit, use these tips to make sure your experience is great:
- Get there early: Strawberry Park Hot Springs is quite literally in the middle of a mountain, and the dirt parking lot is very limited. Once it’s full, parking attendants keep it as one car out, one car in, so you will have to wait for a spot to open. We arrived around noon on a Saturday and had to wait for a few minutes to park. However, when we left later in the afternoon there was a line of cars having to wait. The earlier you can go, the better! Also, you need to have four wheel drive to get there during the snowy months.
- Only water is allowed: No food or drinks are allowed in the hot springs aside from water. The front desk attendant will check any coolers and will ask you to take anything besides water back to your car. You can, however, bring food and eat in the picnic area outside the hot springs, near the parking lot. On the water note, bring plenty of it! While the hot springs are relaxing, you can get dehydrated without enough water.
- Bring sunscreen: I can’t stress enough, the Colorado sun is no joke! Even when it doesn’t feel warm outside, the mountain elevation means you’re even closer to the powerful sun. Trust me on this one, you’ll want to wear sunscreen.
- Put your phone away and enjoy the view: There’s no WiFi and no service at Strawberry Park Hot Springs, and I love that. Take a few pictures when you get there, then put your phone in your pool bag and don’t worry about it. If you need to let anyone know where you are headed, do so before going because messages will not go through once you are there.
- Soak it all in : There’s nothing quite like the therapeutic powers of a natural hot spring, so soak in this relaxation! There are multiple pools and coves to explore at Strawberry Park, and you’ll definitely want to test them all out.
- Also noteworthy: Admission is $15 for adults 18+ on non-holidays. Hours are 10am to 12am on the weekends, and no one under 18 is allowed after dark. Find out more about admission and hours on the website. Make sure to bring towels and anything else you’ll need for a pool day. And most importantly, enjoy!
Glenwood Springs is truly a gem of Colorado, about four hours away from the Denver area. It’s a destination that has a lot of sentimental meaning for me. When I was younger, my family and my best friend’s family would travel to Glenwood Springs for Easter weekend. We would stay at the historic Hotel Colorado , a hotel President Teddy Roosevelt frequented, and we spent the weekend enjoying the amazing natural hot springs at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. There’s something magical about sitting in a 100-degree therapeutic pool while snow is falling with a mountain view. We love Glenwood Springs so much that I even planned her bachelorette party there in the fall of 2018. (Side note, this is a great Colorado destination for a bachelorette party!)
Last December one of my best friends from college was coming to visit. It was her third trip to Colorado, and I was trying to think outside the box in terms of our agenda for her trip. I’d taken her to all the usual spots like downtown Denver, Boulder, tubing in the mountains, even a casino in Blackhawk. I was thinking, what is something that is unique to Colorado and makes a great winter activity? Boom—hot springs it is! There are many hot springs throughout the state, but I wanted to take my friend to the place I’d loved growing up. Plus, I knew Glenwood Springs now has a newer hot springs option, Iron Mountain Hot Springs, and that is a place I really wanted to try.
I planned a day and a half trip to Glenwood Springs, and we had the best and most relaxing time. We drove up mid-afternoon on a Thursday and got in town just in time to check in to our hotel and head to dinner. In an effort to save some money, we stayed at the Courtyard Marriottin Glenwood, which provided great accommodations not too far from town. We ate dinner at the cutest joint called Riviera Supper Club and Piano Bar. This dining destination has so much character and often has live music. The bar is full service and was the perfect place for us to sit and enjoy a delicious meal and drinks. My friend eats gluten free, and Riviera Supper Club has an entire GF menu plus a wide selection of wines. We both left full and happy! After dinner, we headed to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort Pool , where you can get $10 admission for the last hour of operation, which is 9:00-10:00 pm. There’s nothing better than jumping in the hot springs on a frigid cold night!
Friday was our day to try Iron Mountain Hot Springs. To say this place is a dream would be an understatement. This is the place you want to go for a quiet and peaceful hot springs experience. There are 16 different hot springs thermal soaking pools you can choose from. Yes, you read that right- 16!! Each pool was about the size of a large hot tub, each one with a different name and therapeutic minerals, and the temperatures ranged from 99 to 108 degrees. Yes, we did try the 108-degree pool, called Mother Lode, and let’s just say we only stayed in it for about two minutes. Our favorite spot was the Lapis pool right on the bottom of the complex. It was the perfect temperature, with real stones on the floor of the pool and an unreal view of the Colorado River and the Rocky Mountains all around you. This experience was soothing, rejuvenating, unique, and so much fun. Admission is $20 per person. In my opinion, this is truly a can’t miss kind of place, so add it to your checklist now. I know I’ll be going back myself!