A Good Beer Bar in Ocean City, MD
Would a good beer bar in Ocean City, MD be successful?
We posed this question last night on Twitter and received many more replies than expected. Without going into details of the replies, we want to know what you think.
Now just a few thoughts & observations.
Ocean City, MD is obviously a seasonal city.
We also realize that there are no good beer bars along Coastal Highway in Ocean City.
The one decent beer bar we found (Assateague Island Oasis) while vacationing last year, was located in West Ocean City (closer to Assateague Island.) But unfortunately, we just found out it is now closed for good. Sad news, considering they had at least 8 craft beers on tap, including many locals like Heavy Seas, Dogfish Head and Evolution. Though honestly, it was more of a family diner which happened to have a small bar.
The next best beer bar, closest to Ocean City, is Specific Gravity Pizzeria… in Salisbury! This place always has at least 13 craft beers in rotation and is co-owned by the same folks who own the Delmar, DE brewery: Evolution
But again, it’s in Salisbury. A 45-minute drive from Ocean City, MD. We don’t know about you, but the whole appeal of Ocean City is being able to go out and night and not worry about driving afterwards. Lots of public transportation options (bus, cab, etc.) and even more fun – walking back to the hotel!
So back to a craft beer bar in Ocean City. Would it work?
If yes, what would it take for a craft beer bar to work in OC?
If no, why not?
Vote below and let us know your thoughts in comments section.
[poll id="3"]
04 Mar 2010, 12:30 pm
I would click the go to Rehoboth button.
In reality I think it could work but it would need to have decent food and be family friendly during the day and early evening. At night it would need to transition to more of bar.
04 Mar 2010, 12:36 pm
I voted yes.
And while I agree with Nick about Rehoboth (Dogfish), it is a hike from OC. I’d love to walk a few blocks from where I am staying in OC and enjoy good beer in a cool environment. Though because it’s OC, a decent food menu would also be key. But I do think it would work and is needed!
05 Mar 2010, 8:19 am
Although I am in agreement that OC needs a good craft beer bar, 80% of their business is done from Memorial Day thru Labor Day (except for Bike Week later in Sept), and the majority of the business is domestic (cans).
Don’t believe its an economy thing as domestic cans usually run at least $3.00 down there, but its a go-go type atmosphere,where everyone is in a rush, from consumers to servers,etc…
You can find Dogfish & probably now Evolution at a few places like the restaurant side of Fagers,and maybe a few hidden gems (Liquid Assets comes to mind), but for the most part, Blue Moon is going to be as crafty as you’re going to find.
1 could survive year round. But the territory isn’t set up to service the constant rotation of good craft brewers styles that you would find at a Mahaffey’s, Frisco’s, or Max’s.
08 Mar 2010, 7:39 am
Talk to the owners of Specific Gravity and Evolution. There’s a REASON why they set up shop 500 feet across the state line into Delaware, and that reason is Worcester County with a good dose of People’s Demokratik Republik of Maryland thrown in.
While you’re talking with them, ask THEM about setting up shop in Ocean City. Do not be surprised if either gales of laughter or foul language is involved.
08 Mar 2010, 8:04 am
I believe I’ve chatted for a bit with Tommy (Evolution) and heard a but about the insane taxes and awfulness of MD as they relate to small businesses. Awful.
08 Mar 2010, 8:11 am
“about”.. “a but”.. stupid phone keypad
08 Mar 2010, 11:55 pm
Secondary thoughts:
Who, as a general rule, goes to Ocean City? The Bud/Miller/spring break type of folks.
Craft beer drinkers, where do they go? Assateague, Chincoteague, Rehoboth, Dewey, Lewes, etc.
The same syndrome plays out elsewhere. In South Jersey, craft beer types = Avalon, Stone Harbor, or Cape May. Macroswill drinkers = the Wildwoods. Teetotalers = Ocean City, NJ.
09 Mar 2010, 3:12 pm
“If you always do what you’ve alway done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.”
In much the same vein, calling OC a BMC place becomes something of a self fulfilling prophecy. If that’s all there is, then that’s all anyone is going to drink.
Once upon a time, I think it was probably fair to call Baltimore a BMC town (with a nod to guinness and yuengling), but certainly no longer (and less so all the time). Among other things, the increasing availability of good beer throghout the city has lead to increased exposure, and with exposure increased interest and demand. I can’t see why OC would be any different. It might take some time and some growing pains, but I think in time a beer bar with an emphasis on craft beer could do very well in OC.
14 Mar 2010, 2:15 pm
I live in OC. If you really wanted to open a Beer Bar, its gonna have to be awesome, ie dogfish rehobeth. Its going to have to be visually awesome and have some awesome food. I know alot of people in the Pines and Berlin would go there. Ocean city is full of tourist traps it would be good to have a year round quality beer bar with some GOOD, but simple food. In the summer you would make soooo much money, in the off season… just lower the prices….Start a beer of the month club…..So much you can do
18 Mar 2010, 11:50 am
SteveH, I’m perfectly willing to concede that a good beer place in OC COULD work. But let’s consider the reasons why it hasn’t been done yet. Lack of demand? Seasonal traffic? Exorbitant cost of doing such a business there? There WAS a brewpub there, and it failed rather quickly. If it were so blindingly a “no-brainer,” someone–Evolution, Dogfish, Pratt Street Ale House, Iron Hill, Fordham, you name it–would have done something like this by now. The fact that they haven’t means that something is wrong–the market, the business environment, the seasonal business, etc.
Anyone remember that Rams Head had an outlet in Rehoboth Beach? Didn’t last long, and I don’t think it was the competition or the beer quality.
12 Apr 2010, 12:08 pm
Excellent article as always, thanks for writing such helpful content on a regular basis.
03 May 2010, 3:52 am
My Dad and I went on a Uniworld Rhine Cruise last November. We had a wonderful trip, unfortunately Art wasn’t up to writing a trip report. He has started to load pictures but doesn’t have the motivation to finish. I figured if I posted this it would give him the impetus to complete uploading his photos.