Hello and welcome to this day in esoteric political history from Radiotopia.

My name is Jody Avergan.

This day, October 21st, 1978, you walk into your local corner store, your gas station,

your bedego, whatever you want to call it, hoping to pick up a case of your favorite beer

that is named after a president's brother and guess what

the shelves are empty what a tragedy you're gonna have to turn to something else at a

similar price point maybe high life for Coors or God forbid Rolling Rock.

What I am referring to here is the glorious period of time from November 1977 to October 1978

when you could in fact find yourself drinking Billy Beer,

which was named for and endorsed

by the younger brother of President Jimmy Carter,

Billy Carter.

This episode was suggested to us by listener Killian

who writes, quote, I was wondering

if you might consider doing an episode

about Jimmy's deadbeat brother, Billy and Billy Beer.

I find Billy Carter such a hilarious figure, arguably politically significant in how he shaped perceptions of his brother.

So there are bigger themes here beyond just this novelty beer, but thank Killian and here we are let's talk

about Billy beer which ceased production in October 1978 that is our hook here as

always our Nicole Hammer of Columbia and Kelly Carter Jackson of Wellesley.

Hello there.

Hello Jody.

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