Beer Exchange

[orb]

We all discuss Beer and recipes, yet it is like envisioning a shower after mowing the lawn in August...It's much more satisfying to actually take one. Anyone up for a bottle for bottle exchange. either by style or????? I think it sounds cool. Checked at the Post Office here in town....As long as reasonable attempts to make sure it does not break in Transit it's cool. Any thoughts?

[I'mRocketMan]

I'd LOVE to try some other homebrews... Now if I can only have a method to bottle from the faucet, I'll be set...

Cheers! Rocket

[orb]

I'll start. I brew nothing but Wheat Beers and Nut Brown Mild Ales. The Wheats are DME-1 Ounce of Hallertau (60). Wyeast XL smack packs with Burton blow off for primary. 73 Degree water bath to maximize Clove/Banana/Pear flavor. 1 Lb each Wheat flakes and rolled Oats steeped 30 minutes @ 150 degrees rinsed 3 times with 150 degree water and added to DME to begin ninety minute rolling boil. Chill wort-pitch exclusively Wyeast 3068 or 3638. 7 days primary-21 days secondary-3 week bottle condition - 12 oz Grolsch swingtops and 33 oz Cobalt Blue French Swingtops @ 70-75. 3 week cold condition (50-55 Degrees). Ready to roll.....Whatya wanna exchange?
( I'll provide Brown Ale recipes if there is interest........)

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by orb
Checked at the Post Office here in town....As long as reasonable attempts to make sure it does not break in Transit it's cool. Any thoughts?

Hold on. You asked about shipping alcohol through the US Postal Service and they said it's OK? Sorry, but that's bullshit. Shipping booze through USPS isn't kosher - yes, people do it but it is illegal. Most other shipping companies have rules against mailing alcohol as well. I've traded many times with USPS, UPS and FedEx but would never ask permission or admit what the contents were.

"Glassware", "hot sauce", "homemade preserves" seem to be popular answers if they grill you about the contents of your box. Your best bet: open an account online with FedEx, print the labels yourself at home/work, so you can simply drop the package and go. No questions. Don't walk into the post office and tell them you want want to ship beer to your friend in Chicago. You'll be setting yourself up for disappointment.

Cheers!

[JHC]

what about the beer of the month club. How do they do it.
JHC

[davesarman]

I think it goes state by state, does it not? If you look at the sign up for the beer of the month clubs, they usually have a long list of states they can't ship to. In fact, I think I've seen some where they list the states they can ship to, it's a shorter list...

[Tweek]

Beer of the month Clubs use UPS and FED EX. they also have licenses to resell beer, and can only do so to certain parts of the country.

[MARK123]

Is it the same as buying wine intersate? I have ordered wine from various winery's and have had to ship it to relatives in other state's. Is it the same with individuals??

[MARK123]

This may help:
http://www.cuthills.com/statebystateshippinglaws.htm

[orb]

JEEEESSSSSUUUUSSSS.....If anyone is willing to risk incuring the wrath of the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY and just share a beer or two, e mail me @allthegoodnamesaregone@hotmail.com
SHHHHHHEEEEIIIITTT....Sheep nation...............

[orb]

Maybe it's later than I think....

"It's better to to die on your feet than to live on your knees"

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by orb
JEEEESSSSSUUUUSSSS.....If anyone is willing to risk incuring the wrath of the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY and just share a beer or two, e mail me @allthegoodnamesaregone@hotmail.com
SHHHHHHEEEEIIIITTT....Sheep nation...............

Take it easy, bro. Plenty of trading goes on here and on other boards. But like I said and others have posted, shipping booze interestate is illegal through USPS. Much better off using UPS/FedEx/DHL, packing well, avoid asking questions and lie if they ask you what's in the box. Much less hassle.

What caught my attention was that you asked the local post office and they said OK. Trust me, it isn't. Good luck getting some new brews.

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Agreed, I shipped beer many times and it is never a good idea to reveal that you are shipping alcohol. Line Newport says, just lie. Tell them it is some sort of fragile glassware. And I have found it much better to use the private services instead of USPS. I have even received vintage beers from England through the USPS in the past but last May I was attempting to ship products (some Stilton cheeses, biscuits, chutneys and such) back from Fortnum and Mason in London, as I usually do, and they said they could no longer ship food products into the USA. As of March 2004. Homeland Security now has prohibitions from shipping abroad because they fear bio terrorism. So Fortnum and Mason wrapped and boxed my items for me and "suggested" I mail them to myself. I ended up just hand carrying them.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by orb
I'll start. I brew nothing but Wheat Beers and Nut Brown Mild Ales. The Wheats are DME-1 Ounce of Hallertau (60). Wyeast XL smack packs with Burton blow off for primary. 73 Degree water bath to maximize Clove/Banana/Pear flavor. 1 Lb each Wheat flakes and rolled Oats steeped 30 minutes @ 150 degrees rinsed 3 times with 150 degree water and added to DME to begin ninety minute rolling boil. Chill wort-pitch exclusively Wyeast 3068 or 3638. 7 days primary-21 days secondary-3 week bottle condition - 12 oz Grolsch swingtops and 33 oz Cobalt Blue French Swingtops @ 70-75. 3 week cold condition (50-55 Degrees). Ready to roll.....Whatya wanna exchange?
( I'll provide Brown Ale recipes if there is interest........)

Man! Your beer sounds delish. I'm no longer a home brewer but If your interested in some of my local Micro stuff.......

[swzine]

I have heard that the reason many of the shipping companies refuse to ship beer is because of the three tier system established after prohibition. Brewer>Distributor>Consumer. AFAIK almost every state has laws prohibiting direct sales from manufacturers. I have heard that the shipping companies do not get involved because of the difficulty to prove whether they are in compliance of the law or not.

I believe that KY, TN, GA, NC, MD, IN and FL are the only states that actually prohibit the shipping of beer.

The beer of the month club probably gets away with it because of their license as well as the value of their business. There is an awesome distributor in VA that I order from on a regular basis. They use UPS. The site is vintagecellar.com. They also sell homebrew equipment. Needless to say, they dot ship to the states where it is illegal. I use them to get my Yuengling fix in TX. It costs about $22 to ship a case of beer though!

Taking the risk of shipping beer in spite of the shipping company's policy I would do. Taking the risk of shipping in a state that prohibits is pushing the envelope and I wouldn't even try it.

[DreamWeaver]

I have shipped some of my Homebrews to my kids in TX. I used UPS. I also bottled them in plastic 2 liter soda bottles to insure the breaking thing not happen and both of my boys have liked the brews and no mishaps.

I also read somewhere that you can call your beer a live yeast strain item covered in protective beer but I dunno about that one. I have shipped a few glass bottles but cringed until I heard the shipment made it intact.

[hopjack13]

i'll ship anywhere! of course it is okay to ship beer in california, at least thats what it said on the ups web site...

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by DreamWeaver
I have shipped some of my Homebrews to my kids in TX. I used UPS. I also bottled them in plastic 2 liter soda bottles to insure the breaking thing not happen and both of my boys have liked the brews and no mishaps.

I also read somewhere that you can call your beer a live yeast strain item covered in protective beer but I dunno about that one. I have shipped a few glass bottles but cringed until I heard the shipment made it intact.

I've only had one package break. It was one that I had sent to Steveh. A couple of the bottles did not make it. I stopped using the PO and started using Fed Ex.

[billy frank]

I would be up for trading, regulations and laws be damned. What kind of aging punk rocker would I be if I worried about things like that.

Now I just have to get the kettle fired back up.

Let me know,
Billy

[swzine]

Originally posted by billy frank
I would be up for trading, regulations and laws be damned. What kind of aging punk rocker would I be if I worried about things like that.

Now I just have to get the kettle fired back up.

Let me know,
Billy

I am now reporting you to Homeland Security :D

[billy frank]

Probably not the first time;)

Billy

[Jake]

I cannot join any beer of the month clubs because they cannot ship to Michigan. I was thinking maybe I could send anyone who would like to try the miro brew beer near me called Big Bucks out of Gaylord Michigan. I would send them two bottle in exchange for two bottles of thier local micro brew beer. I work for the Postal Service and you could ship beer by USPS, but it like the policy of gays in the military "Don't ask don't tell". I deliver to persons on my route who receives wine and beer all the time. They tell me this is wine from aunt Sally. So how about it anyone?

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Jake
I was thinking maybe I could send anyone who would like to try the miro brew beer near me called Big Bucks out of Gaylord Michigan. I would send them two bottle in exchange for two bottles of thier local micro brew beer.

Unless you're dealing with bombers or 750s, it seems just as cheap to send a sixer as it is to send just a couple of beers - $1-2 more, if that. You have some fantastic beers there in Michigan - Bell's, Founders, Dark Horse, etc. Might as well spread the love and get more "bang for your buck" in return. Just a thought...

Cheers!

[billy frank]

Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like from Califoria and I'll get to work. I like trades:D
Billy

[DreamWeaver]

I've been skeptical about trading beers and even about being a beer judge because of some of the stories I have heard about receiving bad beers and dog/pube hairs, mice in 'em and what not, but I have come to a fork in my beer research road that takes me to a higher level... ~Chance~.. I have not entered any competitions because I have heard/seen that most winners are professional brewers (by name) and I can't/won't compete with them, I won't even try. However, I make an awesome beer, If I must say so myself. I have 2 - 22oz bombers bottles of My "Here's Mud In Yer Rye" Rye beer left that I have made and would like to share with someone that would appreciate them. In turn, I would like one of your Homebrews. Be forewarned, even though I am not as eloquent as SteveH or any other beer judges, I will give a comment in "Tasting Notes" as best I can, and expect the same whether you like it or not. So if think you have a good Homebrewed Beer (no micro brewed beers please) to trade I will take the first two to trade and post who it is when I get a reply. PM me.

Offer ends 8/7/4 cuz I'll drink 'em by then!

~Update~ A trade is in the making... That did'nt take long!

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Jake
I cannot join any beer of the month clubs because they cannot ship to Michigan. I was thinking maybe I could send anyone who would like to try the miro brew beer near me called Big Bucks out of Gaylord Michigan. I would send them two bottle in exchange for two bottles of thier local micro brew beer. I work for the Postal Service and you could ship beer by USPS, but it like the policy of gays in the military "Don't ask don't tell". I deliver to persons on my route who receives wine and beer all the time. They tell me this is wine from aunt Sally. So how about it anyone?

Welcome to the board and thanks for the insight into the USPS policy. I've shipped USPS and now I ship Fed Ex because USPS broke one of my packages. Right Steveh?