top of page

Worlds Fair Beer was released at the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville, TN. The fair ran from May 1 to Oct. 31, 1982 and more than 11 million people visited the "scruffy" southern city.

​

The beer was originally offered back on May 1, 1982 in 1 color option, Red. After that, it was offered in eight more color releases - Blue, Green, Brown, Gold, Black, Purple, Yellow and Orange. Back then, a six pack cost $2.19.

​

In the 80's, beer can collecting was very popular. With 250,000 cases of World's Fair Beer sold during the fair (May-Oct 1982), the cans never quite became the collector's items some hoped. Still, cans pop up on the Internet, eBay or Etsy for a few dollars.

​

That was a total of nearly Six million cans of World's Fair Beer, sold during 6 months. 

​

Though it was called World's Fair Beer and six million cans were sold in six months, the beer was never actually sold on fair grounds. Stroh's paid large fees to be the fair's official beer and Anheuser-Busch had an exhibit. The beer was a "light beer" (very popular in the early 80's) brewed in a Fort Wayne, Ind., Falstaff brewery under the Great Lake's Brewing Company name. Rick Kuhlman, who was a 32-year-old marketing director for local beer wholesaler Pinnacle Sales Company in 1982, originally created the concept of World's Fair Beer.

​

Retailers bought the first 20,000 cases of the red can before the fair even started.

​

World's Fair Beer vanished from retail shelves as soon as the fair ended. 

- knoxnews 2012

​

On June 28, 2016 I renewed the logo with an intent to rejuvenate this beloved brand. 

 

On May (2017), the 35th Anniversary of the 1982 Worlds Fair, Worlds Fair Beer was re-released as an IPA and brewed locally in limited supply thru both cans and kegs. 
 

​

Knoxville, TN - Worlds Fair Beer ® - Chris Lawson

bottom of page