Vacation Disaster

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Cubatobaco, Jun 17, 2013.

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  1. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Last Wednesday my girlfriend and I flew to Arizona to visit her family and spend some time together since we work all of the time. Of course, she knew that while we would be out sightseeing, I would be hunting for beer that I cannot get in VA. Using the "Places" link here, I was able to find this cool little liquor and deli shop just inside a small town in Prescott. The beer manager, I assume, came over the greet me and we talked about beer availabilities in different states and what AZ gets, etc. He asked me if we were able to Firestone, in which I agreed, but told him I had struck out on Parabola this year. With a pleasant smile, he told me he had 6 bottles in the back. Not knowing what else I would find over the weekend, I immediately bought 2 bottles to add to the cellar.

    Long story short (too late), I decided to pack them in my luggage and surround them with thick articles of clothing. When I picked up my suitcase off of the conveyer belt here in VA, 2800+ miles later, I smelled something...something all too familiar. Yep, one of the two bottles had broken. Not only was that disheartening, the wonderful contents of the bottle had soaked into a tremendous amount of expensive clothes! I got home at 1230am this morning and spent until 4am scrubbing and washing everything...most of which I was able to salvage. Man, what a night/morning!

    I have certainly learned my lesson. I suppose I will hold on to my lone bottle for a long time until I am able to come across another. If only I had shipped them back home like my conscious told me to do in the first place. I hope you gentleman/ladies had a great weekend! I hope no one has to ever go through what I have experienced over the last 12 hours. :slight_smile:
     
    #1 Cubatobaco, Jun 17, 2013
  2. Longstaff

    Longstaff Initiate (0) May 23, 2002 Massachusetts

    Beer. Just drink it.
     
    #2 Longstaff, Jun 17, 2013
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  3. AAlchemist

    AAlchemist Initiate (0) Aug 12, 2012 Arizona

    I've flown many times and never had an issue*. I know how to pack my bottles so my semi hard suitcase so that nothing will break assuming it doesn't get oppened and shuffled through. Unfortunately that happened just this past weekend and lost a 12oz bottle as my first RIP bottle. Luckily i had put a sock around it and all the glass was contained in the sock and most of my clothes were all black/dark. The bottle was a rare bottle but only cost like $7 compared to the cantillon and other bottles in there i just counted myself lucky.

    In the end its a risk you have to look at. Make sure to pack your suitcase as tight as you possibly can, pad every side of the suitcase with clotes around the bottles, Add padding/clothing around each bottle and no that even if you do eveything sometimes a TSA or Customs agent will still open.
     
    #3 AAlchemist, Jun 17, 2013
  4. willbm3

    willbm3 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    ISO: Your Parabola-soaked clothing
     
    #4 willbm3, Jun 17, 2013
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  5. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    I'd call that a vacation mishap.
     
    #5 geocool, Jun 17, 2013
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  6. GrindFatherBob

    GrindFatherBob Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2010 New York

    Spend less on clothes and more on bubble wrap.
     
    #6 GrindFatherBob, Jun 17, 2013
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  7. Jules11788

    Jules11788 Initiate (0) Feb 15, 2011 California

    What I do is put a note in the suitcase explaining to the TWA people that I have some expensive beer in here that I've gone to great lengths to pack, so if they could please make sure to re-pack everything how it was then I would be very appreciative. After 6 trips with no mishaps, it seems to work out pretty well.

    Oh, and I bubblewrap the shit out of them too.
     
    #7 Jules11788, Jun 17, 2013
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  8. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Here's a thought: in addition to bubble wrap, etc., put each bottle in a ziploc plastic bag [or 2 or 3 depending on the beer] - prefereably ones with slide zips so they have a better chance of staying shut. Then if it breaks, it won't ruin anything else in the suitcase and if it's a good quality bag or bags, the beer will stay inside and you can strain it and drink it. You will lose the carbonation but you'll still have the beer.
     
    #8 otispdriftwood, Jun 17, 2013
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  9. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    The few times I've flown with beer, (or anything breakable in my luggage) I first seal the bottle into a ziplock, then roll it into a t-shirt or something similar, and secure that with a rubber band. I then pack those into the middle as possible of the suitcase. Never had a problem (yet)
     
    #9 JrGtr, Jun 17, 2013
  10. imbrue001

    imbrue001 Zealot (673) Aug 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    wedding dresses make great packing material
     
    #10 imbrue001, Jun 17, 2013
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  11. zealouszymurgist

    zealouszymurgist Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2005 Hawaii

    I always put the beer into pairs of socks, then place them into shoes. Size 11 is perfect for a 12oz bottle.
     
    #11 zealouszymurgist, Jun 17, 2013
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  12. biglobo8971

    biglobo8971 Initiate (0) May 6, 2010 Minnesota

    my best advice is to go to FedEx or UPS an ask for express bubble mailers. You can seal them and they contain their very own bubble wrap. Usually does the trick for me.
     
    #12 biglobo8971, Jun 17, 2013
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  13. Drtfinelli

    Drtfinelli Initiate (0) Jun 7, 2012 New Hampshire

    garbage bags
     
    #13 Drtfinelli, Jun 17, 2013
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  14. Osyrus

    Osyrus Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2013 New York

    This. I'll never understand why so many traders and travelers don't use ziploc bags. They're cheap and save so much hassle (and potential money in the long run, with the cost of replacement bottles, clothes, re-shipping, etc.).
     
    #14 Osyrus, Jun 17, 2013
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  15. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This was my first trip since being bitten by the craft beer bug. I appreciate the great advice that has been shared in this thread. I certainly learned a lesson.
     
    #15 Cubatobaco, Jun 17, 2013
    Osyrus likes this.
  16. Brenden

    Brenden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,436) Feb 25, 2008 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    ISO: flat, glass particulate-infused parabola:wink:
     
    #16 Brenden, Jun 17, 2013
  17. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Ever heard of cheesecloth?
     
    #17 otispdriftwood, Jun 17, 2013
  18. Brenden

    Brenden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,436) Feb 25, 2008 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have. If it's strained that well, I obviously don't want it. I only want the super-rare one with glass particulates, and it had better be flat as water. Anything else is a gyp.
     
    #18 Brenden, Jun 17, 2013
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  19. devlishdamsel

    devlishdamsel Initiate (0) Aug 1, 2009 Washington

    next time.. take the train !
    Just kidding, that really bites!
     
    #19 devlishdamsel, Jun 17, 2013
  20. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you've got money for expensive clothes then you've got money for trash bags.
     
    #20 Providence, Jun 17, 2013
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