Benjamin Franklin taught us that “beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Taking the top spot on our list of happiest places to be on St. Patricks Day is Strakenberger’s Castle in Austria. Why?...... Because they have warm beer pools and boozy jacuzzi's, that’s why. Billed as “The world’s only beer-swimming-pools” the brewery offers guests the chance to wallow in one of seven 13-foot pools filled with warm beer. Kick back, relax and order yourself a cold one while you let sweet, sweet beer wash over you. By the way, drinking the pool beer is not recommended, but it does give new meaning to the phrase "you smell like a brewery!"
Located a few hours outside Munich, the setting for the Starkenberger Brewery castle is pretty amazing. With the glory that's awaiting for you inside, you probably won't want to spend too much time out there.
As a brewery Starkenberger's been at it for more than a hundred years, and is currently, and always has been run by women. This bearded dude is merely one of their minions.
Barrels are stored down in their super gothic cellar, which you could see if you dropped $10 on a brewery tour, but totally don't care about since you came for the beer pools! So, without further ado...
Residing in the old fermentation brewery, there are seven total pools in a Turkish-bath-like room, each of which are heated and contain 12,000L of water enriched with 300L Biergeläger (remote yeast). Fun fact: ever since the days of ancient Egypt when Cleopatra bathed in beer while Mark Anthony was off conquering empires, beer bath's have been rumored to have a healing, restorative effect.
You've gotta make reservations in advance but for $298/ pool (and an additional $6.50/ person) this could be you sharing a beer pool with blonde coeds. Your two hours of beer bathing also come with beer crackers and a "Tyrolean meat spread" plus one non-swimmed-in bottle of suds per person; because actually drinking the pool beer would be insane... right??
