The Thermal Draught and the Gilded Tap: A Glass at Superior Bathhouse Brewery

In the heart of the Zigzag Mountains of Arkansas, water does something remarkable. Rainwater falls, seeps four thousand feet into the earth, and spends nearly 4,400 years slowly heating and mineralizing before it resurfaces at a steady 147 degrees Fahrenheit. For over a century, this water has been the lifeblood of Hot Springs National Park, flowing into the marble tubs of the opulent bathhouses that line Central Avenue. But at the northern end of Bathhouse Row, the water is being put to a different, equally storied use.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery sits inside a 1916 Classical Revival building that once served as a place for therapeutic soaking. Today, it holds the distinction of being the only brewery in the world located within a U.S. National Park, and the only one to use thermal spring water as the primary ingredient in its beer. Here, the ancient heat of the Ozarks is captured not for a bath, but for a brew, bridging the gap between Gilded Age luxury and modern craft culture.

Local Story

The building itself was the smallest of the eight bathhouses on the row, designed for the 'middle class' bather rather than the elite clientele of the Fordyce or the Maurice. After the bathing industry declined in the mid-20th century, the Superior sat vacant for decades, its green-tiled floors and high ceilings gathering dust. It took a visionary named Rose Schweikhart to see that the mineral-rich, pH-neutral water—historically praised for its purity—was an ideal canvas for brewing beer.

Opening in 2013, the brewery had to navigate the complex regulations of operating within a protected federal landscape. The result is a space that feels deeply rooted in its history. The original white subway tiles and large windows remain, letting in the Arkansas sun while patrons sit where people once sat in steam cabinets. The thermal water is piped directly from the National Park’s reservoirs into the brewing tanks. Because the water comes out of the ground at nearly 150 degrees, the brewers actually have a head start on the boiling process, saving energy while utilizing a mineral profile that naturally enhances the mouthfeel of the beer.

Experience Guide

Visiting the Superior is less like going to a standard taproom and more like stepping into a living museum where you can touch (and taste) the artifacts. The menu usually features 18 different taps, ranging from the 'Northwoods IPA' to more adventurous sours and stouts, all made on-site. The 'Beer Root Float,' made with house-brewed root beer and local ice cream, is a nod to the family-friendly atmosphere that defines the park.

For the full experience, order a flight. It’s the best way to understand how the thermal water interacts with different hop profiles and malts. The water is noticeably soft, which often gives the heavier stouts a silky texture. Between sips, you can look out the large storefront windows at the people filling jugs with free spring water at the public fountains just a few yards away. While you can find local spots using the Zuro app to navigate the surrounding trails, the Superior serves as the ultimate basecamp for an afternoon spent exploring the park's historic architecture.

From Spa to Suds

The transformation of the Superior Bathhouse from a site of hydrotherapy to a brewery is a masterclass in adaptive reuse. The brewing equipment is tucked into what used to be the 'men's side' and 'women's side' of the bathhouse. As you walk through the dining area, you are walking over the same floors where bathers once sought cures for everything from rheumatism to simple fatigue. The brewery has managed to preserve the sterile, bright aesthetic of a 20th-century spa while warming it up with wooden tables and the hum of a busy kitchen serving elevated pub fare like soft pretzels with beer cheese and Arkansas-sourced burgers.

The Water's Journey

The most fascinating aspect of the beer here is the age of the water. Geologists have determined through carbon dating that the water emerging from the springs today fell as rain during the time of the Bronze Age. It has spent millennia traveling through the deep rocks, picking up silica, calcium, and magnesium. While many breweries have to 'strip' their water and add minerals back in to achieve a specific style, the Superior embraces the natural chemistry of the Hot Springs, resulting in a product that is literally a taste of the earth's interior.