Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

329 Central Ave
Hot Springs, Arkansas, 71901-3525
United States

(501) 624-2337 | map
superiorbathhouse.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.75
Beers:
50
Ratings:
97
PLACE STATS
Average:
4
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
25
pDev:
11%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by locoformavs:
Photo of locoformavs
Rated by locoformavs from Colorado

3.59/5  rDev -10.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.75

Dec 27, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of smbslt
Reviewed by smbslt from Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Filled with vacationers - what are you gonna do. Wednesday after the dinner rush so not crowded.
Counter wrapping the windowed facade with larger tables in the interior. Utilitarian metal seats not meant for lingering. Did not venture upstairs but more seating there.
Brock, my server, was upbeat and knowledgable but had too much ground to cover.
18 on tap representing a major part of the beer spectrum. Had 4 (saison, Belgian, Kolsch and a pale - all good) and would have loved to "take a bath" (the 18 beer flight) but the root beer float made a compelling case in the 100 degree heat.
Aug 25, 2023
Photo of Lucnifter
Reviewed by Lucnifter from California

3.84/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Only brewery in a National Park. Pretty unique opportunity. Beer was decent and the food was not bad. Can get fairly busy on the weekends. I got a flight and nothing was significantly off.
Apr 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.54 by KensWorld from Florida

Mar 04, 2023
Photo of jvgoor3786
Reviewed by jvgoor3786 from Arkansas

3.8/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Very nice location in the middle of downtown. Large seating area with a fairly good sized for menu. The food and the beer have a ways to go yet unfortunately. But, if you're in HS, you need to stop by because it's a cool vibe and good location.
Jul 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.63 by McAfee85 from Kansas

Jun 26, 2022
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.44/5  rDev +11%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
So this really is an old bathhouse from "America's First Resort." They may be hesitant to call it the first National Park--the federal designation was declared for other parks first, back in a time when that didn't really mean as much as it does today--but this is undoubtedly a historic location. As such, the floors are decked out in old tiles that do make it feel and even smell a little grimy and musty at first, like my old middle school gym locker room, which itself was quite historic. But while its presentation may not be at the same level of the fancier or renovated facilities on Bathhouse Row, after you spend a little time here you gain a greater appreciation for its preservation, as well as the buzzing taproom operation in general.

Despite the somewhat shabby intro, after we settle in I can’t help but be impressed. What I’m most impressed by is how well they deal with the crowds. Visitors can’t help but be drawn here, as it’s the only bathhouse in the park that’s also a restaurant. It just so happens, for our sake, that it's really a brewery first. But before I dig into that, don't get it twisted: if you're used to the likes of large, sprawling National Parks such as Yellowstone, Shenandoah, Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, don't bring those expectations here. For the average visitor, this park consists of a single street lined with bathhouses where, for the most part, you need to make reservations ahead of time to truly utilize. There's some camping nearby, as well as a few very short hiking trails, but I wouldn't recommend any of that to folks used to much more remote and nature-centric experiences. If "bathing" in public--or a spa experience in general--isn't your thing, you should probably plan this as a simple swing through.

Back on track, because we're here for the beer first, and the food and park a distant second. Once they gave us the call that our seats were ready, we camped out for a good hour or more, starting off with a couple of full pours, then trying tasters of most of their other drafts. We didn't get the hilariously massive Beer Bath flight board--though when we saw it our jaws dropped to the floor--but by the time we were done, we might as well have. They offer a surprisingly wide variety of styles, all from a large draft line impressively attached to the ceiling, as I imagine it's cooler upstairs than down, where the cellar area is closer to the plumbing from the hot springs, which are seriously hot. As we sat at our bar top next to a few older couples, which is more of a high top picnic sort of slab in front of the draft station, we couldn't help but notice that beer was constantly, and I mean constantly, pouring. That bartender was working her ass off.

All their beer is surprisingly decent, and their food is good too. I started off with a bock, and the old lady a few of their quirky sours. I was immediately impressed by the bock, and once a brewery knocks it out of the park with a lager, I tend to view the rest of their beers in a positive light. Some of their sours were passable, but the pickle sour brought me back to Cincy, and may even be better than Urban Artifact's take on the sub-style. There were a few misses, but I was also impressed by their NEIPA, stout, and rauchbier.

We ordered the pho, bulgolgi and stout chili, but had to substitute hand made chicken tenders in for the pho, which they ran out of. It was all very well made--even, or maybe especially, the chicken tenders.

Overall, honestly, this was just one of a few pleasant surprises we experienced in what otherwise seems like a tourist trap of a town. And don't get me wrong, it pretty much is, but there are some hidden gems for folks patient enough to dig.
Jun 08, 2021
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Visited this brewpub while in the area with my family.
Located along the row of famous old bathhouses, in the National Park district, this is as much about history as anything else. I had a flight, which was a collection of fresh and tasty brews....none of them were overly remarkable, but all were well made and enjoyable.
I had an entree salad, which was excellent, and the service was friendly and knowledgeable.
Jan 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.26 by SmellsofMahagony from Texas

Nov 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.85 by jbehlar from Mississippi

Oct 29, 2019
 
Rated: 4.05 by avisong from Virginia

Sep 08, 2019
Photo of craft_shannie
Reviewed by craft_shannie from Indiana

3.16/5  rDev -21%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3.5
well, it’s a brewery within a national park! it has that going- but not much else. space is cool - its a historical
bathhouse, but the beers are average to flawed. staff is hard pressed given the number of tourists & patrons.
Jul 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by NastyNorseman from New York

May 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by Tiernan from Texas

Jul 27, 2018
Photo of DoubleDecker
Rated by DoubleDecker from Arkansas

4.38/5  rDev +9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Good is good . Beer there is a little something for everyone . But not all is good
May 15, 2018
Photo of Turtle_Stampede
Reviewed by Turtle_Stampede from Mississippi

3.64/5  rDev -9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.25 | food: 4
We visited this place twice during a short 4 day trip to Hot Springs about a year ago. I really liked the place not a wide beer selection, but interesting place in the middle of the bathhouse row. I got a beer flight and some were good but the beer wasn't as memorable as the springs.
Oct 20, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by sufisoma from Arkansas

May 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.39 by BillParton from Arkansas

Aug 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by Michelle_Harrison from Arkansas

Jul 06, 2016
Photo of ThaneMcC
Reviewed by ThaneMcC from Germany

4.48/5  rDev +12%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Hot Springs, Arkansas.
During a recent road trip from Virginia to Texas, my family spent some time in Hot Springs. The main route through town (central avenue being the main pedestrian thoroughfare) - there are several bars, restaurants and a small magic theater.
As we learned, Hot Springs was a popular travel destination during the early part of the century, and they are several bath houses along the avenue that took advantage of the local hot spring (dip your toe in to the open hot spring at the park - it's scalding!)
Anyway, Superior Bathhouse is a converted bathhouse, that is now home to a brewery/restaurant. Nice escape from the summer heat, they have a good selection of craft beers on tap - and they have an even better selection of their own brews - their imperial stout was excellent, as was their DIPA.
Solid menu of bar food to along with the beers. Very reasonably priced.
Overall, a great find in a fun town - I would definitely return - and I'd pick up some of their brews if I come across them in the package store.
Jul 04, 2016
Photo of CraftBeerCellar-SpaCity
Reviewed by CraftBeerCellar-SpaCity from Arkansas

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
If your going to visit Hot Springs National Park, and love craft beer - then you have to stop by this bathhouse turned brewery in the heart of historic downtown. Overall, I would rate my experience fairly high. Though their brews may not be everyone's favorite's, the experience is worth having. We were greeted by a polite and knowledgeable young beer geek who was stoked about craft beer. No matter if you're a native, or an out-of-towner, you should pop in and support your local craft beer culture. Keep on kickin' butt and takin' names Superior.
Mar 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.04 by gruss004 from Oklahoma

Oct 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by m_penor from Arkansas

Oct 06, 2015
Photo of TominGermany
Reviewed by TominGermany from Germany

3.81/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
Nothing better than a brewery restaurant right next to a national park (I'm taking on the same block as the visitor center). The place wasn't hoping when we stopped in around 5:00 pm on a Tuesday evening but the service was good, as we the beer and the food. I liked their Oktoberfest beer the best out of the four samples I tried. Liked it enough to order a pint to go with the meat and cheese patter which was also very tasty.
Sep 09, 2015
Photo of coldriver
Reviewed by coldriver from Texas

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
I really wanted to love this place - the historic bathhouse seems a natural for a brewery and it's the only brewery located within a national park. Unfortunately they were short on execution and maybe hot springs water is not the best for brewing beer.

To be fair we were there on Memorial Day weekend and they were likely busier than usual. We were greeted at the door, told they didn't have any open tables, and advised to come back in 40 minutes (even though no one else was waiting). Can we get our name on a waiting list? "No, we don't have one." Why would it be any more likely that you'd have a table in 40 minutes? Blank stare... As our greeter pondered this question a group abandoned their table and left. "We can seat you now..."

We were seated in a side room that had five tables and were advised that they had no menus that weren't in use. Then we were totally ignored for the next ten minutes as the waitress for the room dealt with the other tables. We finally interrupted her and asked if we could get a beer -
"You're not my table."
"Then who is our waiter?"
"I'm not sure"
"Can you check for us please?"
She came back and confirmed that she indeed was our waitress.

We finally got menus and she took decent care of us, but one more questionable service moment came when they served our food and informed us that they were "out of silverware."

At any rate they can fix the service, but I'm not convinced that the mineralized hot spring water will ever be a good choice for brewing beer. I ordered the flight and several choices were cringe-inducing. On the plus side, they have a really nice selection of guest taps, perhaps the best in Hot Springs. If this place just had their own beers my quality and selection scores would've been much lower.
Jun 07, 2015
Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs, AR
Brewery rating: 3.75 out of 5 with 97 ratings