My wife and I are going to the U.P. of Michigan for a week-long camping trip with friends. Naturally, I'd like to bring some homebrew to share. However, coming from Maine, we have to go through Canada to get to the U.P. So... has anybody had experience trying to cross the border with homebrew in the vehicle? I know you're allowed to bring a case of beer duty-free, but does that apply to homebrew, too? Or is it likely to invite excessive inspections, and probably something I'd be better not bothering with?
Homebrew and Customs?
- Thread starter Mainer
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If your driving.....who cares. Just tell the border guy (gal) you have less than a case of beer and move on. They aren't going to bother to check and if they do.....you have beer. Homebrew or with an official label, beer is beer.
OP
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Mainer
Well-Known Member
So you don't think they'll want to turn the car inside-out? I do generally label my beers, which might help a little.
If your beers are labeled you're good to go. You're allowed to bring one case per person, so as long as you limit it to two cases you'll have no issues. Just don't mention its homebrew.
From my experience crossing the buffalo border quite often, you'll have no issues going in. The Canadians are super nice and reasonable. The Americans are hit or miss.
From my experience crossing the buffalo border quite often, you'll have no issues going in. The Canadians are super nice and reasonable. The Americans are hit or miss.
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Mainer
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Ah. Well, there's the trick. See, I have to bring it across the border into Canada at Canaan, NY, and then BACK into the US at Sault Ste. Marie. As much as I'd enjoy sharing with friends and family, I don't know if it's worth the headache.
Also, we're driving with my in-laws in their car, so it would be SUPER embarrassing if I caused an additional search.
agrazela
Well-Known Member
Just tell the in-laws ahead of time of your plans and that there could be a search. It's exciting!
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
steveoatley
someone has to fail, so the rest of you look good
NOPE !
Customs hates "home Brew"
I had some in my trunk, crossed to Canada, in Port Huron, Mi.
Two hours of paperwork later, i was officially kicked out of Canada.
Yup, i have been kicked out of Canada..... not easy to do
They were very polite about it.
The lack of "commercial" labeling on the wine was the reason....
Mail it to a friend
my 2 cents
S
Customs hates "home Brew"
I had some in my trunk, crossed to Canada, in Port Huron, Mi.
Two hours of paperwork later, i was officially kicked out of Canada.
Yup, i have been kicked out of Canada..... not easy to do
They were very polite about it.
The lack of "commercial" labeling on the wine was the reason....
Mail it to a friend
my 2 cents
S
OP
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Mainer
Well-Known Member
My in-laws *are* big supporters of my brewing. After all, they're the ones who bought me my first kettle, carboy, and kit brew.
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Mainer
Well-Known Member
I might just skip it. I can drink commercial beer for a week. Besides, I hear there are some good local breweries in the UP.
steveoatley
someone has to fail, so the rest of you look good
http://www.tahquamenonfallsbrewery.com/
food was OK, beer was better
The State park & falls are worth the trip !
2 more cents
S
food was OK, beer was better
The State park & falls are worth the trip !
2 more cents
S
The crossing at the Soo is a huge pain 90% of the time. Traffic is backed up for miles at times, especially in the summer, and the customs agents can be very grumpy. I've had to pop my trunk, get out of my vehicle, etc, when I had NO reason to be held or inspected. Crossing in Sarnia (lower Michigan) is quick and easy in my experience. The last time, I crossed into Ontario in Niagara Falls, and crossed back a few hours later, with commercial wine and beer with no issues at that crossing. I wouldn't even think about it in the Soo.
It depends on where you are going. I think Tahquamenon Falls Brewery generally sucks, while the Copper Harbour brewery doesn't suck but isn't great either. In Marquette, Black Rocks is nice as is the Vierling. If you go into the Vierling (great food, too), ask and see if Chumly is there and tell him you're from the HBT forum and I told you to stop in. He's a great guy.
In Houghton, the Library has good beer but I am not a fan of Keweenaw (too underattenuated and generally sweet but not offensively bad or anything). Hereford and Hops in Escanaba can be pretty good.
Let me know if you want any input on the best waterfalls and places to see, depending on where you are going!
Brewmasher
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Be advised that DUI is a FELONY in Canada, and if anyone in the car has had a DUI in the past 10 years, they will not be allowed in.
Frankly, I'd skip it. Not worth the hassle.
You know, you *could* always drive around Canada...
just sayin'
You know, you *could* always drive around Canada...
just sayin'
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Mainer
Well-Known Member
We're camping in Christmas, which I realize is not near anything.
We'll be with some native Michiganders. That said, they grew up in Dexter, so it's entirely possible they won't allow any beer other than Jolly Pumpkin, which I'd be down with as long as they're buying.
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Mainer
Well-Known Member
Crossing at Sarnia's not an option. The in-laws are driving, and they want to stop in on some friends in Sudbury on the way. So the Soo it is. Sounds like I'll skip the beer.
No, you're right it's not near anything! Don't miss driving from Munising to Grand Marais on H58, and there are tons of waterfalls in the Munising area. I think (?) there is an open restaurant currently. There are grocery stores in Munising, but I'm not sure of the beer available.
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Mainer
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Our Michigan friends do this every year, so if there's beer, they'll know where to find it!
Brewmasher
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It's been a few years since I've been there, but I think there is a lot to do around Christmas. There is a small tribal casino, and a couple of good restaurants adjacent to it. Munising, just a few miles away is a quaint UP town with a few pubs, including a brewpub and a bunch of restaurants. Park downtown and do a pub crawl to get a real feel of the area. If you never seen the Pictured Rocks, the tour boat is worth the ticket. You can rent kayaks and explore water caves and rock formations not accessible to larger boats. If you are a certified scuba diver there are many ship wrecks in the bay. The protection from the bay keeps the water relatively warm and calm by Lake Superior's standard. There are even a few shallow wrecks that can be explored snorkeling. Most places will have maps of the falls in the area. Miner's Falls is quite spectacular but requires a short hike. The adjacent park at Miner's Castle provides a nice view of the Pictured Rocks National Shoreline, and has clean facilities, picnic tables and grills, no entry fee required.
We camped right near Christmas once a few (ok, more than a few now...) years back. The kids played in Lake Superior. I am quite certain it was the hot part of the year. I got an ice cream headache just wading in ankle deep water!
I don't remember much stuff being around there.
I think we went up in 2004 for the National Speleological Society's annual convention.
Make sure you try some authentic UP Pasties!
I don't remember much stuff being around there.
I think we went up in 2004 for the National Speleological Society's annual convention.
Make sure you try some authentic UP Pasties!
Leave the homebrew at home. Plenty of good breweries here that package beer and have it on the shelves of just about every store. Bells, founders, shorts.............the list just goes on and on. For cheap canned camping beers, founders all day ipa or dirty bastard are hard to beat.
