Homebrewed Beer in checked luggage on an airplane

[DubbelDach]

I've taken homebrewed bottles to Mexico... Customs allowed 3 litres... So I took 3L = 101 oz = eight 12 oz bottles.

Shoved the bottles in white tube socks for cushion and then put them in Ziploc bags.

No problems whatsoever.

 

[masskrug]

Last month I took 6 plastic screw-top bombers from Florida (elevation 12) to Colorado (elevation 8,000) in my checked bag with no ill effects. I let the beer settle/chill for 24 hours before opening. I put this note in my suitcase taken directly from the TSA website:

You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.

Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/alcoholic-beverages

 

[hehawbrew]

I wonder what a TSA agent ( who happens to be a home brewer) would do if he stumbled on the homebrew? Would he remain true to his homebrew brother or true to his taste buds?

Hmmmmm.

 

[rico567]

I have transported homebrew in checked luggage on several occasions. It should be restated that this works only for checked luggage, obviously. "Gate checked" doesn't count, as it's scanned like (and considered as) carryon by the TSA.

 

[Beer_Eugenics]

I wonder what a TSA agent ( who happens to be a home brewer) would do if he stumbled on the homebrew? Would he remain true to his homebrew brother or true to his taste buds?

Hmmmmm.

Please don't give them the credit of agent, they are not even officers they are TSA screeners.

 

[hehawbrew]

Please don't give them the credit of agent, they are not even officers they are TSA screeners.

Touché. I'd like to say what I really think they are, but, I don't feel like setting off any trigger words that big brother may be searching for

 

[high5apparatus]

I just bought some Wine Diapers to bring my own rum with me on vacation, and I added a few so I could pack some homebrew bomber bottles. I hope it works out.

 

[high5apparatus]

Follow up. The wine diapers worked perfectly.

 

[Torg]

I am a frequent flyer (read over 3,000,000 miles on a certain airline). And I can tell you the TSA is about as capricious as our alcohol laws. That is I have flown the same route and the same plane weeks on end. Each time taking a growler with me. And in one of them it was taken by a TSA agent. How do I know this, because they left one of the cards that said they checked it. When I called to get my growler back I was told the TSA does not keep the items, but instead destroys them. It really was a nice growler, I will miss it.
That being said please keep in mind the TSA often does not follow its own rules. I can tell you of times I have (mistakenly) carried on butane lighters (they have never been allowed on planes), knives, my wife's SIG250 (in our checked backs, undeclared) and bottles of water through the scanner. Yes all of these should have been picked up by the TSA.
All this being said, it is all anecdotal information. It is much easier to ship it though UPS. You will know where it is, can insure it if you like, and have more room in your baggage. Obuet the best advice I can give you, as a frequent user of their services, is to avoid the Kabuki theater that is the TSA as much as you can.