Mailing Homebrew

Hey all,

From what I've read, some of you send homebrews to each other for tasting and maybe bragging rights . Anyway, my question is, whats the best way to send them through the mail? How do you pack them up and such?

Thanks

UPS is good. USPS isn't keen on shipping your beer. I like to pack mine with the label, "Handle with care, live yeast samples." Pack them in old 12 pack cases with dividers and plenty of padding. Alternately, use those new Budweiser aluminum bottles if you have a bench capper.

US mail will not allow any alc product to be mailed.

I did ups and not told them and mailed just fine.

The local UPS store does always ask me what I'm shipping, and their regs prohibit shipping alcohol - but at least it's not against the law like it is with the USPS. So, I've been sending a lot of "machine parts" to my buddies around the country (I can't bring myself to do the "yeast samples" thing, it just sounds SO suspicious, I'd rather lie outright).

Which reminds me - Yuri, I owe you beer! I'll get myself oranized and send you a package shortly.

Sometimes the label matters, though.

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/12/fedex_homeland_secur.html
http://putative.typepad.com/putative/2007/01/fedex_refuses_s.html

For years before getting back into brewing I bought and sold collectible art pottery and glass. The local UPS got used to me shipping that stuff. When I started shipping "collectible bottles" they didn't raise an eyebrow. I just neglected to tell them the bottles were full of beer.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company