So I live in Wisconsin and am going on a west coast (Seattle, Portland, California) trip. I know I am going to want to buy a ton of beer that is not available in my area. What is the easiest way for me to get the beer from California back to Wisconsin (I will be flying home)? I have heard of people checking a case as their bag but I have also heard that was illegal. Any advice?
You can pack beer. I almost always fly with some. They make special luggage for it but i usually just bag it, bubble wrap it and put it in the center of my checked bag. Haven't lost one yet. (Knock on wood)
Packed beer in my checked luggage on my last trip home. A six pack and a bomber. I did not have bubble wrap, but I did have plastic bags. So I wrapped the beers in one plastic bag, then placed the beer inside another bag, and wrapped the beer with my laundry. The outer bag kept the laundry from shifting away from the beer, while the inner bag kept the beer from coming in contact with my scary laundry. Worked pretty well.
I read this as you were buying a home in an area with good beer and it would be your vacation home! That would be some real dedication.
Just came back from California with 18 bottles. 12 came back in a styro-shipper that a generous BA got for me, just simply checked that as my bag on the way back. The other six were wrapped in bubblewrap and freezer bags and put in a suitcase that we used as a carry-on on the way down but as my girlfriends checked bag on the way back.
If it's just a couple bottles, I've used the wine diaper bags: http://www.amazon.com/Diaper-Reusable-Absorbent-Eco-Friendly-Accessory/dp/B00308FONW
Oh dear, I read the post title and thought we were revisiting the beer flop house idea...... I do mostly road trips but did once bring beer back in a checked garment bag by wrapping beer in plastic grocery bags (two of them) and then wrapped shirts around them. Didn't bring a ton back, 2 bombers and 4 smaller bottles if I recall correctly. Once wrapped up I stuffed them into dead middle. No issues at all.
fly southwest and take advantage of the free checked bags. you can fit a lot of properly cushioned beer in a 50 pound bag!
i'm really nerdy but here are the rough bottle weights for various sized containers, this is without padding so add weight for that based on the type of protection you use: 750ml - 3 lb 10 oz 32 oz - 3 lb 22oz - 2 lb 4 oz 12oz - 1 lb 5 oz
Awesome! Thanks for the tips. @lysergicdream impressive knowledge of the weights! Apparently I chose a poor name for this thread. I didn't think of how it could be read when I typed it in!
I usually bring a few 'Spirited Shipper' boxes for vacation bombers along with a roll of packing tape and a pre-printed UPS label addressed to myself. I get the ones that hold two bottles. I think they're intended for wine, but they work perfectly for bombers. The Spirited Shipper boxes can be broken down and folded so that they don't take up too much room in your luggage on your way to your vacation. When you pack the bottles, make sure they are tight...you should stuff some newspaper in them so the bottles don't rattle and be sure to put a little extra newspaper wadding around the cap area because this area is more susceptible to leakage or damage. You can drop off the package(s) at any UPS store or if you are staying at a hotel, the concierge/front desk will make sure it gets picked up. If you drop it off at a UPS store don't tell them there is beer in the box...I always just say 'snow globes' if they ask.
Def not illegal. I would not just check standard bomber or 750 ml case but a 12 bottle shipper would be fine. The math might be better to ship on that, though it would be more trouble than just checking it. I always just travel with a large bag and bring bubble wrap (even for weekend trips) and keep the weight under 50 lbs.
the 750ml bottles are heavier glass than the 32 oz growlers, at least the ones i have on the shelf. i weighed all the above items while they were full for reference during my vacation packing. i know it's contrary to logic but TL;DR, yes, the 750 is heavier
Drive, or FedEx. But seriously just drive home. Just did the drive from chicago to hill farmstead and driving was totally worth it was able to make it home no problems with 7 cases of beer and a cooler full of growlers. If you want to get more than a case I would seriously consider driving.
