Traveling for work with beer bonuses

I travel for work and am on the road about 40% of the time. I always take advantage of trying local and new to me spots. I have been able to really enjoy some great beers, food and locations due to my work.

I never bring beer back as I only use carry on luggage.

Take advantage of your travels! Remember to sign up for a loyalty programs for both airlines and hotels. The points really add-up.

 

Sounds like you have a great plan.

You'll usually find yourself in good, like-minded company when at a brewery, but you never know what you'll get at a restaurant bar. I would usually order a beer, then make a decision if I was going to carry out or eat there, depending on how the environment felt around me. I've met some great people and had interesting conversations with total strangers, but also found myself in some cringe-worthy situations by people that said some offensive things.

 

I had to travel to Poland last year and heavily researched their beer scene. Found an app for the phone which is their version of untapped, used it heavily. I was there for 10 days and tried to hit all the major locations in the first 3-4 days to determine where I would be spending most of my time. I didn't bring home any Polish beer, but I found a good bottle shop and lugged home a bunch of Cantillon & 3 Fonteinen. I also took over about 9 canned IPA's and handed them out to the bartenders, they loved that. So yes when I am traveling anywhere, for business or pleasure I am usually scoping out where I will eat and drink.

 

Whenever I travel, I do my best to hit up new breweries, whether it is for work or not.

 

I'm not much for the bar and restaurant scene, so not much help there. But I have learned to allow "me time" while travelling - so new breweries, good bottle shops, and it is about the only time I will seek a restaurant with a good tap list as a prerequisite. Generally don't like to drink and drive and definitely do not drink when I am with most colleagues from work.So I drink a lot of hotel beers.

 

I traveled for work for my whole career, and when craft beer 'bloomed' I always made it a point to choose my overnight locations close to a brewery. (I had over 300 breweries ticked when I retired.) However, my travels were mostly in a car so that I had no transport issues to get beer home.

If I had to fly, I'd probably pack my clothes in an oversized suitcase so that I would avoid a second bag charge for checking a 'beer bag' and making my employer pay the cost. (Subject to weight limits with all of that beer.)

 

I don't travel for work much but when I do I take a good solid suitcase, ole pinky, loaded with bubble wrap and a couple of 12x12x12 boxes that way I can pack a good haul in the suitcase and ship some if, I mean when, I go overboard. I would get in the habit of just checking a suitcase...its free on Southwest and costs 50 bucks on other airlines...I've had my bottles rummaged through but never any casualties.

I also make it a point to hit up some good vinyl shops...I've been collecting Reggae Records for twenty years and it's nice cause unlike the beers, I can carry those on the plane. I think traveling sucks but it's great to check out other cities and their goods....I've been fortunate to travel to East Lansing twice...What a beautiful area. Great beers and I picked up some good Vinyl there too!

 

I will always check out a local brewery when travelling for work. Especially if theres food; the company buys meals, after all

I don't like flying with beer, so I usually don't bring much back in suitcase. If I'm driving, I'll bring back as much as I can find in the vehicle

 

Traveling for me has always been about beer, going back 40+ years. Luckily my travels began in England, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany,,Austria, Switzerland, France, the former Yugoslavia, Greece, Poland, and other odd places to boot. I never brought any beer back, but I sure have a lifetime of memories. In those days American beer was beginning to reawaken. Welcome to NOW! This is a great time for beer......

 

Make sure you get one of these credit cards that give you lots of points/miles for travel expenses. That will go a long way.

 

I travel ~60% of the time. At least once or twice during the trip I'll find a local brewery and try a flight then often have another (or two) of the ones I like. I'm a carryon traveller so I don't bring any home. I'm always working with someone there so I'll usually send them local from here to trade for something local there (I have 6, 12, 24 and bomber shipping containers).

I use the Brewery Map app to find what's close to me and the offering and then check BA to see what people have to say about the place.

 

Don’t travel too often for work but when I do I’ll check in two bags on the return leg. I bring a standard case and on the way out I pack a small hard case inside it.

I research the area before going and pack whatever I can take home. I usually wrap in bubble wrap, then put that into zip lock bags before packing out the hard case with maybe a towel or some clothes that are for the wash when I get back. Then just check in both cases on the way back and happy days. Also it’s a great opportunity to organize a trade, especially if you’re traveling trans Atlantic with some 3F and Cantillon.

 

I've done my share of traveling with beer both domestically and internationally. How often will you be traveling on a plane domestically vs. overseas? Not "cheap" but neither is the beer you drink and enjoy. Considering, this would be worth the investment and ATA safe:

https://winecruzer.com/

Depending on how much beer you're bringing back, and how much you will be traveling, the cost of an extra checked bag vs. shipping - it's cheaper to transport on the plane. My experience was the maximum bag weight = 50 lbs. Use a suitcase bigger than what you need for the trip and to keep it under 50 lbs., get a hand held luggage scale:

https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-luggage-scales-4158093

I've stuffed bottles and cans in shoes and wrapped stuff in clothes in my checked bag. After (10+) years of that scene, never lost a can or bottle while flying. Running shoes are pretty awesome - lightweight and great insulation / shock resistant.

It depends on how much shah you plan on bringing back vs. the luggage size. (In desperation, I've also used work out room towels - shhhhhhh ---- "don't tell nobody" ... )

"Enjoy" the travel while you can and capitalize on the experience(s)!!!!

 

I went to germany last year for training. I made it a point to drink plenty of their beer, but unfortunately didn't make it to a brewery during my visit. I didn't bring back beer because I had a couple steins and didn't want them damaged.
If you do bring some back via airplane, I'd wrap them in clothes and put them in your carry on. That way you handle them the entire time, not a baggage handler. Just make sure you declare what you're bring back. As long as you don't bring back an ungodly amount, there will be no issue.

 

Won't there be an "issue" with the volume of beer? Isn't the ban on liquids in carry-on bags international?

 

Yeah I cannot imagine that you would walk through security with a liquid wrapped up in extra clothing in your pack without being stopped. If they limit the amount of mouthwash that I can have then I am assuming the beer is a no go.

To answer the OP, I've brought back beer in checked baggage a few times with no issues. I wrap the cans or bottles individually with bubble wrap and put them in gallon ziplocks. From what I can tell, they have never been opened for inspection or anything either.

 

I used to travel for work up to 2 months out of the year, nationally and some international. The travel budgets dried up about the time I seriously got into craft, but if I have any further travel I'll be adding a lot of new states towards all 50 (51 with DC) by hitting taprooms. I might be tempted to bring back beer in checked luggage, though my one attempt at transporting a sixer resulted half of them breaking. Next time I'll just mail them.

Having been to an African country where you can't drink the water, the embassy encouraged drinking either bottled water they provided, Coke, or bottled bier - so they don't have to medevac you out. Of course bier was preferred, even though the two local biers were not great. The lesson is though, when on travel try all the local and regional beers you can.

 

Previous to the "carry-on liquids" ban, working in the auto industry I'd go to Detroit for various reasons. My last trip, circa 2002-2003*, on a simple overnighter to approve some equipment, I gave my carry-on bag to a co-worker, who stuffed it into his, and my "carry-on" was a case of Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

* Contrary to popular belief, the liquids ban was not immediate after 9-11 but came later.