Billy Beer is a failed beer brand named after Jimmy Carter’s younger brother Billy Carter. It was my Falls City Brewing Company for about a year, but it never really caught on. I suspect it was a bright American large beer, similar to everything else that was being made at the time, but I’ve never really tried it. I’m only 31 so I missed about 7 years.
Interestingly, despite Billy Carter’s claim that the beer was made for him and that he loves it, he is actually reportedly drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon (another large American pale ale).
Production didn’t last long anyway, but millions of cans were made. That being said, the value can be low. I know many South Americans keep cans as “collectibles”, but since so many people keep cans, their value is actually pretty low. I have an uncle who has several cans.
There was an unopened box on a TV show a while ago that sold for $100; however, the real value is just what someone is willing to pay if you decide to sell it. The same goes for any collectible. You can earn more if you are in the right place at the right time. Places like ebay make it easier to reach collectors of rarer items like billy beer, but the prices are still not that high. A quick search revealed some cans selling for $2-$40 (unopened six-packs cost more), but no one actually bid.
NOTE: If you find one, don’t drink it. I don’t know if I need to say this, but this beer is almost 40 years old now…and not as old as Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen or Chimay.
