Buy one of those hunting belts that hold shotgun shells. Make sure it has no metals parts. Load with vials of yeast and wear it under your clothes like a money belt.
i would not check yeast unless i had to (i.e. i can't get it through as carry-on). you have no control over the temperature in the cargo hold of a plane. things can get pretty cold in there. luggage handlers aren't always gentle with your luggage. chance are things will be fine if you check them, but carrying them on means that you have control over temps, handling, etc.
I can't believe I never thought about that...
Heh, it doesn't really get that cold, certainly not enough to cause harm unless it's a really cold winter day and you're sitting on the tarmac a long time. From what I've heard most cargo holds are heated to 45-60F. Animals get thrown in the same area as the luggage. I'd actually be more concerned about it being too warm, especially on a sunny day in the summer sitting on the tarmac for an hour, which is why I've always checked mine with ice packs in a small 5 quart cooler. I've been in the belly of a plane on particularly hot sunny days and it can be rather hot to touch. (I work for an airline in cargo/baggage)
that makes sense. i thought that animals were always placed in a pressurized cargo hold, while some luggage might be placed in a separate unpressurized hold. but your point about conditions on the ground, while getting to and from a plane, is very valid. luggage does indeed sit around in unheated and uncooled conditions. i've had stuff in my luggage freeze while traveling in canada in winter.
i think that's a bad idea. the mail sits in warehouses, trucks, etc that can get either very hot or very cold. you might be ok in spring and fall, but summer and winter shipping (whether your own or from an online shop) can be risky. the advantage of flying it that you can control the environment, and it's free (in as much as there is no incremental cost to you, since you're already flying... unless they make you pay for checking your luggage).
that is obviously ideal, but sometimes "shopping local" isn't so local. my local supply shop is a 40 minute drive away (one way). i don't always have 2+ hours to dedicate to a shopping run. on the other hand i travel every week for work and there is a LHBS five minutes from my client site. it's a whole lot easier for me to buy stuff while on business travel than it is to buy when at home. the OP is in a similar situation.
. I usually order my supplies from Northern Brewer or Austin Homebrew. I ordered a kit a few weeks ago, then the heatwave hit. In spite of ordering 3 ice packs the Wyeast smackpack arrived warm. I am a little concerned that my yeasties are dead. Fortunately, it's for a pretty modest gravity brew (in the 1.040's) so I figure I'll make a starter and see how it turns out...
you could always have a little gym bag/overnight bag with you, throw in a few t-shirts for padding, and have that ready to check in case you get busted. put a tupperware in there to put the smack pack in, for added protection and/or adding ice to.
Buy one of those hunting belts that hold shotgun shells. Make sure it has no metals parts. Load with vials of yeast and wear it under your clothes like a money belt.
You could call and ask, but the person giving you the answer would not be the person checking your carry-ons.
Give it a try and post your results.
you could always have a little gym bag/overnight bag with you, throw in a few t-shirts for padding, and have that ready to check in case you get busted. put a tupperware in there to put the smack pack in, for added protection and/or adding ice to.
actually, the flying barrel in frederick is closer for me (www.flyingbarrel.com/). it's a really great shop, folks there are ridiculously friendly and helpful, great selection, LME in bulk (if you're into that), etc. Columbia isn't much farther but i really like the FB plus it's straight-shot up 270 from my place. columbia is more of a hassle, what with needing to take either 495 or backroads. i do want to check it out some time. will likely be before i hit a show at merriweather
ah, that makes sense. thanks for the info.
it should work as long as your airport uses traditional metal detectors and not full body (millimeter wave) scanners. also, be sure that you don't look lumpy - they'll pull you aside and pat you down if they suspect you have something under your clothes. they'll definitely confiscate anything they find during a pat-down.
yeah, i've gotten some funny looks from screeners as my bags went through the x-ray with 7 pounds of milled grain in it. but i think they see all sorts of weird stuff, i suspect that grain isn't such a strange thing relatively speaking. i've brought back grain 4 or 5 times and not once did they ask to open up my bag and have a look.
