The Thermal Sip and the Gilded Tile: A Glass at the Superior Bathhouse Brewery

In the heart of the Ouachita Mountains, steam rises not from industry, but from the earth itself. Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a city built on the promise of healing waters, a place where Gilded Age architecture meets the rugged geology of the American South. For over a century, travelers have come to 'take the waters' along Bathhouse Row, a collection of grand, neoclassical structures that served as the premier spa destination of the early 20th century.

Today, one of these historic landmarks, the Superior Bathhouse, has traded massage tables for fermentation tanks. It stands as the only brewery in the world located inside a National Park, and more uniquely, it is the only one to use 144-degree thermal spring water as the primary ingredient in its brewing process. To sit at the bar here is to taste the very essence of the mountain, filtered through layers of rock and time, then transformed into something crisp, cold, and profoundly local.

Local Story

The Superior Bathhouse originally opened in 1916. It was the smallest of the eight bathhouses on the row, specializing in 'mercury treatments' and affordable hydrotherapy. By the 1980s, as modern medicine replaced the mineral-bath craze, the building fell silent, its pipes dry and its grand windows shuttered. It remained vacant for nearly thirty years until Rose Schweikhart, a musician and beer enthusiast, envisioned a new life for the space.

Restoring a historic bathhouse under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service is no small feat. The renovation required meticulous attention to the original sun-drenched tiles and brickwork. The plumbing, however, was the greatest challenge. The brewery taps directly into the hot springs—water that has spent roughly 4,000 years percolating through the earth before emerging at the surface.

Walking into the Superior today, you feel the weight of that history. The floors are the same tiles trodden by bathers a century ago. The light pours through large panes, illuminating a space that feels more like a community hall than a dark tavern. There is a sense of circularity here; the water that once provided a physical balm for visitors now provides a social one. Using the Zuro app can help you find other historic rehabilitations in the region, but few match the sheer sensory integration found at the Superior.

Experience Guide

When you visit, your first choice is between the indoor hall and the outdoor tables that overlook Central Avenue. Inside, the atmosphere is airy and industrial-chic, preserving the clinical cleanliness of its bathhouse roots while adding the warmth of a modern taproom.

The beer list is extensive, often featuring up to 18 different styles brewed on-site. Because the thermal water is naturally soft and rich in minerals like silica and calcium, it creates a unique mouthfeel. The 'Superior Pale Ale' is a staple, but for those who want the full spectrum, the 'Beer Bath'—a tasting flight of every beer currently on tap—is the definitive way to experience what the thermal water can do.

Beyond the beer, the food menu focuses on elevated pub fare with an Arkansas twist. The soft pretzels are a local favorite, often accompanied by beer cheese made from the house brews. It is a place that invites lingering, whether you are cooling off after a hike to the Mountain Tower or starting a long evening of exploring the city’s haunted history and neon-lit storefronts.

The Science of the Spring

The water used at the Superior isn't just heated; it is naturally sterile. Emerging at approximately 144 degrees Fahrenheit (62 degrees Celsius), it requires very little additional energy to bring to a boil for the brewing process. This high mineral content is typically something brewers have to adjust for, but here, the recipes are built to complement the natural chemistry of the spring. The result is a profile that is distinctly clean. Locals will tell you that the 'Hot Springs water' is what makes the coffee, the bread, and now the beer in this town impossible to replicate elsewhere.

Exploring Bathhouse Row

The Superior is just one anchor of the historic district. After a pint, it is worth walking the length of the row. You can visit the Fordyce Bathhouse, which now serves as the National Park’s visitor center and museum, offering a glimpse into the elaborate marble showers and gymnasium equipment of the 1920s. For those who still want the traditional experience, the Buckstaff and Quapaw bathhouses continue to offer mineral soaks and spa treatments, maintaining the continuity of the town’s namesake tradition.