When I was a kid, my dad used to drink Billy Beer while he was working in the barn tending his animals.

I remember him saying: "I've got two Billy's in my barn. One's a goat, and the other is a beer!" My dad had lines of cans stacked neatly on his workbench. Now many collectors have them showcased on a mantle in their basement.


Since Utica was only one of four breweries that produced Billy Beer, many connoisseurs consider themselves lucky if they happened to have a collectable can  with the classic pull back tab in their posession.. In 1977 Billy Carter appeared on the cover of Newsweek magazine holding one of his own beers. I wonder just how many peanuts Jimmy and Billy shared while enjoyng a can of BIlly Beer together.

Certainly the number of beer selections now available at Saranac (formerly West End) has increased significantly since the days of BIlly Beer. Mr. Carter would most definitely approve of the incredible growth and success of this family run business. When Billy made his first visit to Utica in 1978, a local asked him what he thought of the town. His response: "I ain't seen anything but snow so far."

Just Jen and I chatted about Billy Beer this morning.

 

 

 

 

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