Shipping Beer: Best Company?

Can't vouch for a particular shipper - any would be better than putting it in checked baggage. I once traveled to Denver for work, and managed to locate a favorite limited distribution beer. I wrapped it real nice with clothes, and put it in my checked soft bag. I think one or two survived. Of course my clothes were soaked, as probably were other unlucky suitcases stacked below mine.

You may want to get a liquor box from a liquor store, and some bubble wrap. The larger slots for the liquor bottles should accommodate beers in bubble wrap. Put some bubble wrap at the bottom and top of each slot too. Might want to check the trading forum for further ideas.

 

I have a fedex and ups right next to each other but i always prefer fedex, but i would definently bubble wrap everything. I usually use newspaper to form a 1-2 inch protective barrier on the sides and bottom of the box. Hope this helps

 

Another option is to take it to a UPS store. They'll pack it and ship it - and they have all the right supplies. I suppose if there are any regulations about shipping beer, they might refuse. But maybe not an issue if shipping to yourself. Worth a call.

 

Fed ex it your home. You'll have to pack it and box it up , no shipper knowingly accepts alcohol to ship. A big box might cost $30, lots of padding, personally I hate to hear sloshing.

 

First, depending on your location, call one of these shops and ask if they have wine shippers for sale:

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Wine+Store&find_loc=Denver,+CO

Put the destination address inside the box prior to sealing.

Label the out side of the box with directional arrows for this side up ↑ and 'fragile'

Attach a sheet to the top of the box stating "Live Yeast Samples ~ For Analysis Only"

Pack everything carefully and ship using FedEx Home Delivery:

http://www.fedex.com/us/fedex/shippingservices/package/home_delivery.html

FedEx Home Delivery is almost half of what UPS Ground will cost.

Try to ship on a Mon or Tue to ensure your box does not sit over a weekend period in a hot truck or trailer.

Remember: we all analyze yeast differently!

 

I've put countless beers in my checked bag and 6 this last week from Tampa. Never had a problem.

 

Probably had an issue because I wrapped the entire six pack and not the individual bottles. I had planned to drink them there and the decision to pack them was last second. Probably broke banging against each other. Bonehead move.

 

I've found Fed Ex ground is cheaper than UPS ground. Wrap them individually in bubble wrap and you'll be fine. Good luck.

 

don't ever discount USPS flat rate priority mail boxes.

 

If you go to U-haul, they have wine shipper boxes in various sizes. Took one to NJ from CA, and hollowed out a few slots to make some Sixpoint packs fit along with some singles fit on a plane. The guy at the Philly airport had to visually inspect the box and said "man you did that up right."

 

without a doubt...get a styrofoam shipper...the only way to go...from an experienced shipper....you are shipping olive oil or sno globes or yeast samples....just not alcohol or beer...thats probably not legal...do NOT use USPS...thats a federal offense...a crime and punishable by time, in jail...with UPS and FEDEX its probably a policy violation...

 

Just an FYI, you may find the check bag fee to be cheaper than shipping (presuming you aren't on your 3rd individual bag) and you can check the bottle shipper box as luggage. And if I had a choice between the two, I would check the bottles as luggage every time.

As to checking beer in luggage, I've taken hundreds (probably approaching 1,000) bottles all over the world in checked baggage and only ever had 1 bottle break. And that was 11 bottles wrapped in newspaper in the case box that came from the brewery with a glass in the 12th spot. (Literally a hand off of the case from the booze delivery company at the airport in Singapore on a 4 hour layover.) Short version, bottles are more resilient than most people give them credit for. Yes they will occasionally break, but you really have to be trying.

 

Though you have to be careful with those styrofoam shippers. If you are going to ship it with a carrier, put your styro shipper & box inside another bigger box.

I tried to send out a trade via UPS and told them it was Olive Oil. They must have scanned it or something because the sealed tape (that I signed) wasn't broken and on the outside of the box it said" "Illegal Shipment: Beer." It was a wine shipper, and on the box it said in sharpie: "BEER." There is no way they could have known there were pint cans inside unless it was put thorough an x-ray.

Damn. At least it didn't get destroyed "ALA" some stories I have hear of FedEx with beer shipments.

There are lots of tricks to getting shippers accept your packages.

1st...ship from WORK!
2nd...make an account from your home and DROP OFF prepaid. No questions.
3rd...Styro shippers. Southwest does 2 checked items for free. 2 boxes....or 24, 750's, or 1 box of bombers/750s, and 1 box hollowed out for cans gets your beer delivered anywhere...safely for the price of a ticket...my hollowed out U-haul Styro shipper made it back tonight from Philly with a bunch of East Coast goodies. Going to be a good weekend and upcoming Father's Day!