Published June 26, 2026
From “Natty Boh” to “Natural” — A Generation X Bartender’s Take on Ocean City Beer Culture
Certain memories never leave you when you spent your younger years bartending, waiting tables, or working in restaurants around Ocean City during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
The sound of ice being shoveled into a cooler behind the bar.
Steamed crabs dumped onto newspaper-covered tables.
The familiar scent of sunscreen, salt air, and Old Bay drifts through open windows on a busy summer afternoon.
And then there was the beer.
Back then, the brands people ordered weren't just beverages—they were part of the culture. They reflected where you were from, whom you knew, and sometimes even what generation you belonged to.
When “Natty” Meant One Thing
For longtime Maryland bartenders, there was never any confusion about the word “Natty.”
If a customer walked into a bar and ordered a Natty, they were talking about National Bohemian Beer—better known throughout the region as Natty Boh or simply “Boh.”
The nickname was deeply woven into Maryland culture long before younger generations began using “Natty” to describe Natural Light.
To many locals, especially those working behind the bar, Natty meant Boh. It always had.
The Beach Beer Called “Natural”
That doesn't mean Natural Light wasn't a major part of life on the Eastern Shore.
In fact, for years, it seemed impossible to spend a summer weekend in Ocean City without seeing stacks of silver cans chilling in coolers everywhere you looked.
Natural Light was the unofficial beer of:
- Fishing trips
- Beach rentals
- Boat docks
- College houses
- Softball teams
- Backyard cookouts
- Fourth of July celebrations
Open almost any cooler, and chances were good you'd find a few cans floating in melted ice next to hot dogs, bait, or somebody's forgotten sunglasses.
Yet despite its popularity, many Worcester County locals rarely called it “Natty Light.”
Instead, they called it what it was:
Natural.
"Grab a case of Natural."
"Throw some Naturals in the cooler."
"Give me a Natural."
Simple. Direct. No misunderstandings.
Because if you ordered a Natty, many bartenders were still reaching for a Boh.
Maryland's Deep Beer Loyalty
Part of the distinction came from Maryland's strong sense of regional identity.
National Bohemian wasn't simply another beer brand. It was a symbol of working-class Maryland culture. Its iconic one-eyed mascot, Mr. Boh, became a familiar sight in corner taverns, seafood restaurants, marinas, and countless stories shared over a cold beer.
For generations of Marylanders, Boh represented home.
So when younger drinkers began using "Natty" as shorthand for Natural Light, many longtime bartenders found it a little strange. The nickname already belonged to another beer—one that had been part of the state's identity for decades.
Calling Natural Light simply "Natural" solved the problem and preserved a piece of local tradition.
A Taste of an Earlier Ocean City
Today, Ocean City continues to evolve. New restaurants, larger resorts, and a different generation of visitors have changed much of the landscape.
But hearing someone order a "Natural" the old-fashioned way still brings back memories of a different beach town.
A town where bartenders recognized regulars before they sat down.
A town where summer jobs turned into lifelong friendships.
A town built on hard work, local traditions, and simple pleasures.
And for those who lived it, one thing remains true:
If you walked into an Ocean City bar years ago and ordered a "Natty," chances are you weren't getting a Natural Light.
You were getting a Boh.
