Shipping beer to my brother

[old world beer]

My brother lives in Dallas Texas and he wants to try my home brew.. Does anyone know how I can Ship this to him.. Will the bottles explode from the heat on the trucks... And is this legal??
I just want to send a six pack to him ... No harm done..

Thanks

[Wilson]

I got this idea from this board: I've set up an online FedEx account. I print my own labels, then have them come pick it up in my office. No questions asked. Package them correctly and you'll be fine, lots of padding and those "peanuts." Is it legal? I dont know...sure is fun though.

[fretlessman71]

If you pack it well enough, no one will know the contents, and it's not that big of a deal after all. I'd suggest packing them in such a way so that even if one does break, there's some sort of plastic bag surrounding the bottles so they don't leak out of the box.

[HogieWan]

box > thick plastic bag > packing material > beer

[Trogger]

The way I understand it is that the US Postal Service, FedEx and UPS all prohibit shipping beer, so never label it as beer. I don't know if it's a legal thing or a because-it-has-carbonation thing.
I do know you can ship wine no problem. I've done that before, so I would think it's due to the carbonation.

[chazwicke]

Just label it glass and use Fed Ex.

[Payson]

I've used UPS a number of times and called it anything from "glass" to "gifts" to "live yeast cultures". Never had any problem.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Trogger
I do know you can ship wine no problem. I've done that before, so I would think it's due to the carbonation.

Not so. Any alcohol, shipped by someone without a license to sell alcohol, is prohibited by USPS, FedEx, UPS and I'll assume DHL. Yes, many employees might look the other way, but why take a chance? It's not a carbonation thing - soda is fine to ship. It's the alcohol.

Online FedEx account is golden. Print labels online, drop off or have it picked up. No questions. Easy.

If it's just a sixer of 12 oz. bottles:
-place each bottle in a quart sized Ziploc (or generic) bag
-then wrap each in several layers of bubble wrap, paying attention to the neck/crown
-keep bottles away from the sides/bottom/top of box
-try to keep the bottles from being packed tightly against each other, though if wrapped in enough bubble wrap it's not an issue
-Best packing material to fill space is bubble wrap or non biodegradable peanuts :eek: as they won't shrink or dissolve should you have a leak - newspaper and BioD peanuts are other options
-be certain there's no shaking/sloshing going on in the box
-seal tightly, label, have faith
-Figure 10lbs. for a packed sixer of beer - all shippers can give you an online quote. Roughly? $8-10

Cheers!

[fretlessman71]

Newport, that's almost exactly what I do when I ship, save for a few niggles:
I give each bottle a single layer wrap of bubble wrap, then fit TWO bottles in a quart ziploc back, facing alternating directions.
I do my best to get all of the bottles to stick together so that they move as one mass instead of seperate bottles.

Seems to work well this way - you've got the right idea. I failed to do this a year ago when I sent some beer to steveh, with near disastrous results... :rolleyes:

[brewernelson]

I talked to UPS and Fedex today.

It seems that as a private person I can ship through UPS and Fedex to any state that allows the shipment of beer or wine from a private person. Also you have to live in a state that allows the shipment of beer or wine to ever ship out of your state. YOU cannot without a license ship wine or beer out of your state or into another state for SALE. You have to have a license for that. Some states only allow a licensed company to ship beer or wine into the state. If you are unsure if your state allows beer and or wine shipments you better ask the Fedex or UPS store and also make sure that the state you are shipping too allows you to do so.

Florida, big no no. Missouri and Washington state are OK.

[I'mRocketMan]

Florida, big no no.

Another reason for hurricanes... LOL!! J/K!!

[brewernelson]

After living in Florida, I found out the reason Florida does not have an income tax is because they tax on every single thing else and not only does state tax on everything, so does, county and city.

This or course is better then MIssouri, where I get taxed State, County, City, and Property.

How does this relate to Beer? I Drink Beer becaue I get Taxed. :)

[Thirdrail]

a few years ago i read an article about shipping fragile/breakable objects and i picked up what seems to be a great tip useing the expanding foamin a can....wrap the object(s) in plastic....place a layer of foam in the bottom of the box and while it is still somewhat "wet" place your package in the foam....this will great a layer on the bottomof the box....then fill in around the object with more of the foam....i wold suggest putting a thick plastic layer down between the 2 sections to have a parting line in the foam

[brewernelson]

Sounds very secure.

I bought some wine and some beer from a company and they shipped to me in their own packing materials. I kept those packing materials and I ship to my dad in Spokane. He then mails the empty box back for more.

Greedy isn't he.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by brewernelson
I talked to UPS and Fedex today.

It seems that as a private person I can ship through UPS and Fedex to any state that allows the shipment of beer or wine from a private person. Also you have to live in a state that allows the shipment of beer or wine to ever ship out of your state. YOU cannot without a license ship wine or beer out of your state or into another state for SALE. You have to have a license for that. Some states only allow a licensed company to ship beer or wine into the state. If you are unsure if your state allows beer and or wine shipments you better ask the Fedex or UPS store and also make sure that the state you are shipping too allows you to do so.

Florida, big no no. Missouri and Washington state are OK.

Spoke to whom at UPS and FedEx? I don't recommend asking your local UPS/FedEx store employee on policies such as this. Many simply aren't informed. Joe Schmoe weighing your box at the local UPS Store/Kinko's may have just started there last week and may be gone next week. Your local store may look the other way, but don't bet on every location to do likewise.

Do as you will, but "don't ask, don't tell" is seriously the best policy. Sorry, but I've had traders lose beer to both companies with no recourse. It's simply not legal from everything I read and have experienced.

Cheers!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by brewernelson
I kept those packing materials and I ship to my dad in Spokane. He then mails the empty box back for more.



He ships an empty box? The least he could do is put some beer in it! ;)

Cheers!

[brewernelson]

I have to agree with "newportstorm". Just because I talked to a UPS and Fedex person today, does not mean that they knew what they were talking about.

Newportstorm has told me this before. I also have opened up a Fedex account and I also do the "don't ask, don't tell method".

Because I homebrew, I do not put a price on my stuff so I do not worry about losing it, if stolen.

I would be more careful if you are shipping a special or expensive something.

What would be nice is if there was a lawyer out there who could keep us informed in these matters.

[newportstorm]

From FedEx site:
"Alcoholic Beverages

FedEx will accept shipments of alcohol (beer, wine and spirits) inbound to the U.S. when both the shipper and recipient are licensed entities. The shipper must hold a license from the country of origin issued in accordance with that country's law and regulations. The recipient, located in the U.S., is required to hold the following two licenses: 1) a basic permit for importer and/or wholesaler issued from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and 2) a wholesaler, dealer, distributor or manufacturer license issued from the State in which the recipient is located.

FedEx will accept alcohol shipments outbound from the U.S. when the shipper, located in the U.S., holds the following two licenses: 1) a basic permit for importer and/or wholesaler issued from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and 2) a wholesaler, dealer, distributor or manufacturer license issued from the State in which the shipper is located.

FedEx will not accept shipments of alcohol (beer, wine or spirits) to non-licensed parties located in the U.S. from an international location."

From UPS:
"(h) The only alcoholic beverages that UPS accepts for transportation are wine and beer. Packages containing wine and beer are accepted for transportation only from shippers who are licensed and authorized under applicable laws to ship alcohol and only on a contractual basis. To receive service for packages containing wine or beer, the shipper must sign a contract and agree to the provisions set forth in the approved UPS agreement for the transportation of wine or beer. All packages containing wine or beer must have a UPS label requesting an adult signature upon delivery. It is the responsibility of the shipper to ensure that a shipment tendered to UPS does not violate any federal, state, provincial or local laws or regulations applicable to the shipment. All shipments, including shipments containing wine or beer, will be accepted for transportation only according to the terms and conditions contained in the UPS Tariff."

From USPS:
"42 Intoxicating Liquors
421 Definition
Intoxicating liquors are potable beverages that have 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content by weight and that are taxable under chapter 51 of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code.
422 Mailability
422.1 Nonmailable Matter
422.11 Intoxicating Liquors
Intoxicating liquors having 0.5 percent or more alcoholic content are nonmailable. This includes taxable liquors with 3.2 percent or less alcohol, as well as those obtained under a prescription or as a collector's item. The prohibition of the mailing of intoxicating liquors is contained in federal law (18 U.S.C. 1716)."

DHL: do you really need me to look?

Cheers!

[brewernelson]

I cannot argue with that and I won't. That looks to be straight from them.

I only told what I heard from them, and it could be wrong.

Anyway, I am done. I do not want to lead anyone astray.

Be Careful is the bottom line here, I think.

[Jake]

I reused the boxes I get from my beer of the month club. With one of my shipments last January when it was extremely cold the beer must of froze and the beer that had twist tops popped off. The other beer that was not in twist top bottles were ok. Placing the bottles in plastic bags is a good idea.