We Braved the Storm!: Photos from Brews on the Beach '18

One decade of Brews on the Beach is in the books, following this year’s annual West Ocean City beer fest that ALMOST got rained out but then, thankfully, didn’t.

Below are some of our favorite photos from this year’s Brews on the Beach. If you missed it, or if you made it out and just can’t wait until the next one, be sure to join us at OCtoberfest on Oct. 27 at downtown Ocean City’s scenic Sunset Park

. A big thanks goes out to everyone — festivalgoers, vendors, musicians and the lovely staff at Hooper’s Crab House — who braved the rain to either enjoy the festival or help make it happen. There’s nothing like a cold beer in the pouring rain!

It started out as a nice enough day — we got to the Hooper’s parking lot bright and early to set up all our stuff, including the smaller, 10 x 10 tent that we’d use as a check-in area before guests entered the big tent where all the breweries and vendors were stationed. We put the glasses out. Had our wristbands ready. And a little before 12:30, festival-goers started pouring in.

And a little after 12:30, rain started pouring in, too. Not just a little bit of rain, but what looked and felt like a monsoon. We waited under the tent for about 10 minutes before packing everything up and hauling all our soaking wet stuff, and our soaking wet bodies, underneath the bigger tent.

With our check-in table now set up “inside,” people continued to make their way in. We couldn’t believe how many people faced the torrential downpour just to come inside the tent and drink beer with us — but we’re glad they did. Opposite Directions started playing again after about 25 minutes, when the rain finally lightened up and everyone calmed down enough to get their glasses refilled once again.

What was billed as “the best party on the beach” somehow became even more of a party with a couple hundred people huddled under one tent, watching the band play and having a good time in spite of the thunder and the puddles.