As soon as you walk out the doors of Penn Station in Baltimore, you can spot one-eyed Mr. Boh, the namesake of Natty Boh beer, perched on a billboard over Charles Street. Steeped in local history, the beer is considered a major part of Baltimore’s local flair. Most visitors to Baltimore aren’t familiar with this cheap, local favorite. Even though Mr. Boh was discontinued as the mascot in the early 1960’s, billboard, banners, signs and paintings are still sprinkled across the city. I was drawn to this character; what the hell is this one-eyed man I see plastered across the city? Why is the city of Baltimore so obsessed with this cheap beer?
Mr. Boh's billboard outside of Penn Station
In 1885, the National Brewing Company cooked up their first batch of Natty Boh. Their owner, Jerold Hoffberger, was also the president of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. The beer was incredibly popular; in 1960 it was named the “official” beer of Baltimore. A decade later, the iconic brewery in the aptly named Brewer’s Hill neighborhood of Baltimore was moved to the suburban town of Halethorpe, MD. The beer was a staple of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, home to the Orioles and Colts. By the late 90’s, both teams had moved stadiums (the Colts moved to Indianapolis) and Natty Boh faded into oblivion. Natty Boh was sold twice and ended up in the hands of Pabst Brewing Company (the same guys who make Pabst Blue Ribbon and Colt 45). In 2006, the Orioles announced “Boh is Back” and started pouring beers to thirsty Baltimore baseball fans again. Despite being brewed in North Carolina by Miller, Natty Boh is still considered THE beer of Baltimore. The empty Brewer’s Hill factory was renovated and renamed Natty Boh Towers. Today, it’s being used as office and self-storage space, but Mr. Boh is still perched on the roof as a giant neon sign, glaring at the skyline of Baltimore.
The former Natty Boh brewery... now a self-storage center
In the past few years, Natty Boh’s popularity has skyrocketed. Todd Unger opened a chain of souvenir stores, selling everything from key chains to carpets with Mr. Boh’s cartoon on it. During an interview on DC radio station WTOP, Baltimore native Tim Richardson, vice president of Maroon PR said, “When you think Baltimore, you think crabs, you think Orioles, you think Ravens and you think Natty Boh”. Mr. Richardson is right, Natty Boh has become as synonymous with Baltimore as blue crabs.
Inside the Natty Boh Gear store... click to go there
How does one describe the taste of Natty Boh? Imagine Pabst Blue Ribbon, a pale lager, but with more bubbles and slightly less flavor. Don’t let my description deter you, it’s actually a tasty light(ish) beer that does a good job of quenching your thirst without filling your stomach.
Natty Boh art (origin unknown)
If you stop through Baltimore, swing into the local bar or corner deli and pick up a can of Natty Boh. Enjoy a taste of Baltimore’s history and pride… best accompanied with a crab cake sandwich and fries drenched in Old Bay seasoning. Cheers, hon.
Cheers, hon. (flickr)
Filed under: Travel Stories Tagged: | Baltimore, Beer, Local Beer, Maryland, Mr. Boh, National Bohemian, National Bohemian Beer, Natty Boh
