I'll be visiting Brussels in a few weeks for a day and then will be in Germany for a week. I know my luggage is already full so I will need to ship beer purchased in Belgium back from Germany. What is the best way to ship from Germany to the US? Any tips on filling out the paperwork? Cheers Brack
Brack, I've used Deutsche Post to ship beer from Germany to IL before. It is of course a little expensive, bit it arrived no problem. I just put 'Biere Flasche' (beer bottles) on the customs form and had no troubles. Prost! and enjoy your time in Europe! Matthew Also, what part of Germany will you be visiting?
I would advise you to not label it "beer bottles", since there is a good chance to get into troubles with customs by doing so.
I brought back 10 bottles from Belgium by removing some luggage. Mainly things like boxers, undershirts, random t-shirts, etc.... Brought my weight to 35 pounds and then added the bottles wrapped in bubble wrap and each in a garbage bag. I did not declare anything, nor say anything to customs and never had an issue. Well minus one of the bottles leaked on the way back, but because I had it taped it did not leak bad and I was able to consume it flat.
I'll be in Heidelberg for a week for work. What does "collectible glassware" translate to in German? That is what I always put when shipping from the US to EU.
You don't need to translate that term, since german customs are fluent in english. It will also help when the package arrives in the US.
DHL is the way to go, just be aware of the maximum amount allowed for gifts in the US. Otherwise, it ll get taxed
Agree with the checked luggage, SO much cheaper and just pack with you a super lightweight backpack. Then put the majority of your clothes in if so you can fit beer. Done!
Or stop by Etre Gourmet's shop on your way out of Brussels and they will package it and ship it back for you. Also, check out Lazenne.com if you need styro shippers to make sending the beer home simple
I travel back and forth from Germany to the US a couple times a year, and I vouch for the just bringing it on the plane route. It's damn expensive to ship beer.
No need to ship, just buy an extra luggage or suitcase in Germany and fill it with beer. Or buy a smaller suitcase that you can carry-on to put your clothing and use the larger checked-in suitcase for beer. You can buy bubble wrap at the local Staples through out Germany. 5 days ago, I just came back to Illinois from Germany and Brussels. I actually just bought an extra suit case (~45 €) in Germany and filled it with 70 pounds of beer that I could not fit in the other two checked in bags. As far as customs is concerned, I just told them the truth when they asked me what was I bringing from Europe. I just answered: "ageable Belgian and German beer". They just answered: "beer is ok". They never asked how many bottles. I was prepared to pay taxes if they would have argued that 210 pounds of beer was just too much for personal use. I don't believe that they would have understood that most of it is cellar-worthy and not immediate consumption. :-) Good luck.
I misread your message. I thought that you were already there. Since you haven't left yet, then just take with you 3 total bags 1 carry-on and two nested bags as checked in. I actually checked in two bags on my way over there: one with clothes and it her two nested fuller with bubble wrap, tape, and REI weight scale If you're traveling business, then you get three total checked in bags with 70 pound limit and a carry on. If travelling economy, then you're entitled to two checked in bags with 50 pounds limit plus carry-on.
If you're planning on going to Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen breweries, you will need that many bags. I wrongly miscalculated and thought that two large checked in bags (and a carry-on) were going to be enough; even with the 70 pound limit, I had to buy a fourth suitcase in Germany.
If you want tips for your beer shopping spree, just let me know and I'll advise you since I pretty much scouted the main bier shops on Brussels and may be able to tell you if they have what you're looking for. Here's an un requested tip that I wish I would have known prior to heading to Brussels: stop at Lueven (on the southern outskirts of Brusels) and visit "the Belgium Beer Shop" (Tiensestraat 31, Lueven). This shop had stuff like Lou Pepe Framboise, Lou Pepe Geuze, Fou Foune and other Cantillons. They also had all three Westvleteren beers at 9.5€ (for reference, you cannot find them for less than 12€ a bottle in Brussels). Once you arrive in Europe, call Jos Vinckx (store manager) and ask him for the beers that you're looking for before you head out to his store. Jos is fluent in English and you can reach him at +32 16 700 220. BTW, Lueven has great coffee shops, so have some coffee if you go there.
wish I had known this before I went. I found a few bottles of Cantillion and bought some at the brewery but no Lou Pepe
Sadly I only have Saturday and won't be able to make to Leuven. I already have 2 50lb bags lined up through trades. The airline charges 200 for overweight or for the 3rd bag. Shipping 20kg from Germany is about 70€ so I think it is much cheaper to ship anything beyond the second bag. Thanks everyone for the tips!! Looking forward to traveling over there.
At Leuven, the prices were still overpriced compared to prices at Cantillon Brewery. I paid similar prices to those you pay at Brussels restaurants such as Nüetnigenough. At Brussels beer shops, expect to pay between 40 to 50€ for Lou Pepe and Fou Foune, if you manage to find them. They were nowhere to be seen in Brussels... Lou Pepe frambroise - 33€ Lou Pepe Geuze - 27€ Fou Foune - - 27€ Carignan and similar - 25€ Geuze & Kriek - 18€ 3F golden blend 0.75L - 33€ 3f intense 0.75L - 33€
Also this beer shop at Leuven has a website, but the store manager told me that he doesn't even bother to update Cantillon and 3F due to the high turnover. So he said to call him instead to determine availability. Everything that I bought, he went to the back to get it.
