The Legendary Beer Pools of Starkenberger Castle

By Drew Prindle September 10, 2013

starkenberger beer pools screen shot 2013 09 at 4 07 20 pm — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Every guy has fantasized about diving headfirst into a pool of beer, and thanks to the good folks at Starkenberger Castle in Austria, you can finally make that dream a reality.

Deep in the bowels of the castle you’ll find seven 13-foot pools, each filled with somewhere around 42,000 pints of warm, yeasty, swim-ready lager. Obviously you wouldn’t want to drink this stuff and risk getting some blonde Austrian pubes in your teeth, but apparently soaking it up in your skin has its own set of benefits. Rich in vitamins and calcium, Starkenberger Castle claims that immersing yourself in beer is good for the skin, and also helps cure open wounds and psoriasis.

The pools started back in 2005 after the fermentation cellars of the 700-year-old castle were no longer needed, so rather than turning the space into some chintzy gift shop or themed restaurant, the Castle’s keepers opted to transform the space into a unique type of beer spa. You’ll need to make reservations in advance to take a dip, but for $298 a pool (and an additional $6.50/ person) you can bathe in brew for up to two hours. Your two hours also comes with beer crackers and one bottle of cold, non-swimmed-in bottle of suds. If one isn’t enough to quench your thirst, you can always order another round and have it delivered to you poolside.

Find out more on Starkenberger Castle’s website.

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