What was Billy Beer?

Billy Beer was first made by the Falls City Brewing Company of Louisville, Ky., in July 1977. It was named for Billy Carter, the younger brother of then-President Jimmy Carter. Billy Carter promoted Billy Beer, and each can bore his endorsement and a facsimile of his signature.

While the novelty of having the brother of a sitting president promote beer caused a sensation at the time, the beer itself did not remain on the market very long. In October of 1978, Reynolds Metals bought nearly 9 million empty Billy Beer cans and melted them down for scrap, signaling an end of the line. Though regarded as a collectible, Billy Beer cans are not particularly rare or valuable.