From the outside, it looks like a brewery.

Table and chairs sit on the patio, and as you enter the building, you’ll find a row of taps with different brews.

But it’s not a taproom. It’s a spa.

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Damien and Jessica Zouaoui in 2021, Oakwell Beer Spa is a wellness center in Denver where you can get a massage, sit in a sauna and sip some drafts. Coloradans have embraced the novel spa, which just opened a second location in Highlands Ranch.

The former New York residents were drawn to the idea after a 14-month adventure around the world, where they experienced the wellness practices of different cultures. From social beer spas in Eastern Europe, to jjimjilbangs in South Korea, they noticed how social wellness seems to be across cultures, unlike here in America, where spas tend to be considered an individual experience.

“The spa industry in America is really stuck to the past and stuck to a specific audience and very transactional,” Damien said, adding that spas here also tend to advertise more to women.

So, when they returned from their travels, they knew what they wanted to do: make a place where people could enjoy wellness together. And what better place to mix brews and self-care than Denver. Sure, they had thought about other cities like Boston and Chicago and even Austin, Texas, but none hit the marks like the Mile High City.

“With 400 breweries across the state, we’re not going to run out of beer,” Damien joked.

The Highlands Ranch spa has 10 taps, which also includes wine and non-alcoholic beverages like kombucha. They source their beer from local breweries, changing the selection each month. There’s even a house brew, a light, cucumber beer (because it’s a spa, after all). While visiting, they’ll teach you how to properly pour your brew at the self-serve tap station.

“Beer is just a way to ease you into relaxation, or wine or kombucha,” Damien said. “It’s not an Irish pub.”

One of the spa’s most unique features: the beer bath. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have that bubbly smell you may associate with a rough night. Instead, hops and barley are mixed with different herbs steeped in the bath for a more pleasant, relaxing aroma.

There’s some science behind it, too. The flower of the hop plant is commonly used to help sleep and reduce anxiety, but more studies need to be conducted to test the plant’s effectiveness, according to Healthline.

In addition to the beer bath and sauna, the spa also offers full-body massages, using zero-gravity massage chairs. The chair, made by a company in Boulder, lifts your legs to above your heart and adjusts based on your size, Jessica said. So, if you’re shorter, you won’t have the machine kneading your head where its supposed to reach your neck.

The response has been incredibly positive, with Oakwell named “Best Spa” and “Best New Bar” in 5280 Magazine, and listed in Entrepreneur Magazine’s top local spas. So, it just made sense to open the second location, reaching a large part of their customer base, Damien said. As for pricing, its up to par with most Denver spas, starting at $199 for a suite.

Ultimately, Damien and Jessica hope the spa is able to connect people — even if its a bit unconventional.

“It’s about bringing people together and having a good time,” Damien said. “Spa and beer, that’s the best of both words.”