How do I mail beer?

Root Skier · Post by **Root Skier** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:53 am

Hey borg,

I'm in the process of moving, and haven't been brewing in a while, hence my absence. Frustrating...

Anyway, I need to mail 2 12oz bottles from NJ to Utah. Can I just wrap them in bubble wrap, and box them or is there a more preferred method?

Thanks.

Post by **BlackDuck** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:07 am

That's pretty much how I do it. I make sure each bottle is wrapped good, and there is plenty of packing material in the box to keep the bottles in the center of the box. Then I ship them via UPS. I believe it's illegal to send them through the post office.

John Sand · Post by **John Sand** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:24 am

I shipped via UPS too, double boxing first. I have read that others ship USPS without trouble, and that the Post Office isn't interested in enforcing that law. Enter at your own risk.

Post by **gwcr** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:26 am

The key is to wrap it like you would be shipping a priceless vase from the Ming Dynasty, then you should be fine. I haven't had any problems shipping through UPS, but it is currently illegal to ship through USPS. I found it works best to pay online and print out the shipping label and attach it to the box before going to the UPS Store. I walk in and say I have one to ship. They look at the prepaid label and say thanks. No questions asked, so no answers given...

Root Skier · Post by **Root Skier** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:30 am

Ok. Thanks for the USPS info. I was going to use their flat-rate boxes. Stupid victimless laws...

Yankeedag · Post by **Yankeedag** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:25 am

Just tell them it's BBQ sauce component. If they ask.
I bubble wrap, Zip lock bag, and cardboard support the bottles, along with more bubble wrap. Box.

Inkleg · Post by **Inkleg** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:23 pm

We do have one Borg member here that thumbs his nose at the Government and ships USPS in a flat rate box. Last I heard he wasn't in jail.

I wrap the bottles with small bubble wrap and cushion them in the box well enough that they can't move. If they ask, you're shipping "arts and crafts"

swenocha · Post by **swenocha** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:22 pm

As detailed here, USPS really wants to get into the beer shipping business for us, but they need congressional approval.

FrozenInTime · Post by **FrozenInTime** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:29 pm

UPS has worked for me. I have told them birthday gifts, they ask no further. I even once told them it is a large yeast sample, they chuckled and sent it.

Kealia · Post by **Kealia** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:47 pm

Sorry for the late reply.....had to post bail.

I also tend to put my bubble wrapped bottles inside a ziplock bag, just in case.

What stood out to me in your post though was that you want to ship to Utah. I could be wrong, but I think it's illegal to ship alcohol to/from Utah. You may want to check into that.

FedoraDave · Post by **FedoraDave** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 4:30 pm

swenocha wrote:As detailed here, USPS really wants to get into the beer shipping business for us, but they need congressional approval.

Remember, "pro" and "con" are opposites. So the opposite of "progress" is....

BTW, I've shipped beer UPS and just write "crafts" on the label. It's craft beer, isn't it? And for all they know, it's a homemade birdhouse.

Brewbirds · Post by **Brewbirds** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 5:37 pm

UPS for me as well.
Like others have said make sure to have the bottles, after thorough break protection wrapped in some kind of heavy duty plastic bag then box. I don't think the trouble starts until a box gets a wet spot on it from a broken bottle.

I do the bubble wrap, and use a six pack holder to keep them upright, then use a twist of brown packing paper looped around the necks in a kind of figure eight to keep them from shifting around in the box. Usually when done you can't even hear that there is liquid in the box (no sloshing noise).

And as Ink said you want to make sure about the state you are shipping to. There's a difference between dealing with careful packaging for a shipping company and violating a state's alcohol laws.

Wings_Fan_In_KC · Post by **Wings_Fan_In_KC** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:36 pm

Just make sure the label reads:

To
Wings_Fan_In_KC
288 Ounce lane

Yankeedag · Post by **Yankeedag** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:03 am

Wings_Fan_In_KC wrote:Just make sure the label reads:

To
Wings_Fan_In_KC
288 Ounce lane
Overland Park, KS

Silly a Person, that's the Unauthorized disposal address.

Chuck N · Post by **Chuck N** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:25 pm

Mailing beer can be a very delicate thing. It's not something you want to jump right into. You'll want to practice first. Rather than shipping them all the way all at once maybe you should ship a couple like...half way there just to make sure you have the procedure down good. Coincidentally, I find that Minnesota just happens to be pretty much dead center between N.J. and Utah. At least when you factor in the mountains and all. I'll PM my address to you and you can send a couple to me. If they make here okay I'll forward them on to their final destination. If they don't make it here okay I'll let you know and you can try it again.

Hey. No need to thank me. Helping out is what I'm all about.

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