Lambic Discussion Thread

[LukeAleTime]

OK, one last beginner's question and then I'll stop hijacking this thread for travel advice...is there any particular trick to bringing beers back through customs? I get free checked bags so I wouldn't need to ship, but is there danger of having bottles confiscated or whatever?

Coming back into NZ and Australia most people who have a crapload of beers will declare them, and have an itemized list of sizes, abv and quantity. Basically this avoids getting caught out not declaring (which if you do, they will shaft you as best they can for not being honest) and makes the customs officer's job a lot easier. Saves them rummaging through your ****, lets them know that you are doing your best to make their job easier, and lets them know that you understand the rules and are doing your best to abide by them.

People like that - especially the ones who like to let a bit of power go to their head. Chances are because it's beer and you have all the details, they'll just waive the duty (I don't know anyone who has had to pay even with large amounts of beer. They don't care about beer. They care about catching people).

You can just ship it in the normal way to avoid paying extra weight limits on your baggage and having to deal with all of that, and often that's probably easier. I would look at how much you think you'll bring back, how much it'll weigh and how much your bag will weigh before that. Then compare that with shipping.

 

[stupac2]

OK, one last beginner's question and then I'll stop hijacking this thread for travel advice...is there any particular trick to bringing beers back through customs? I get free checked bags so I wouldn't need to ship, but is there danger of having bottles confiscated or whatever?

That depends on your state. Look it up. I know in CA you can bring in something like 6 cases before having to pay duties. Just declare it, put some random-ass value for it, and you'll be fine.

Also, there's actually a thread dedicated to visiting Belgium, maybe this should be moved there since it's not really relevant at all to this thread.

 

[xscottypx]

Like your pic! It cellars good. Thumb- rule is that you want sugar to ferment, to cellar.

Edit! Don't know where this ended, but was supposed to be a respond to the guy with the lfc pic, and about the intense red

pretty sure that was me.

 

[anteater1]

Just placed my first online order from Belgium.

3x Cantillon Gueuze 750
1x Cantillon Rose 750
1x Cantillon Kriek 750
1x 3F OG '12 375
1x 3F OG '13 375
2x 3F OG '13 750
1x 3F OG '14 750
1x 3F Golden Doesjel '13 375
1x 3F Kriek '14
1x Westy 8
1x Westy 12

So stoke.

 

[xscottypx]

this is good, sour as **** tho. its the latest vintage

 

[ASUBeer]

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

 

[Hookemhops13]

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

Every box I have gotten shipped has had the "retained at customs" note. Usually resolves in a day or so from my experience. No worries.

 

[SeaWatchman]

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

Nah, should be ok. That's actually a new one that has been popping up lately, as I had some boxes of glassware get "retained at customs" for an unknown reason. Popped on the other side about two days later.

 

[EliotRosewater]

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

I'm in the exact same boat right now. It's only been a few days but I've never seen this before. Has anyone had the "retained at customs" thing actually turned into a confiscated box?

 

[lazerviking]

I'm in the exact same boat right now. It's only been a few days but I've never seen this before. Has anyone had the "retained at customs" thing actually turned into a confiscated box?

islandboi8204 has had an issue

 

[islandboi8204]

islandboi8204 has had an issue

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

I'm in the exact same boat right now. It's only been a few days but I've never seen this before. Has anyone had the "retained at customs" thing actually turned into a confiscated box?

I had a box of A&Ts shipped from belgiuminabox confiscated at customs a couple years back, box arrived with all 12 bottles missing. Kurt never resent...

 

[EliotRosewater]

I had a box of A&Ts shipped from belgiuminabox confiscated at customs a couple years back, box arrived with all 12 bottles missing. Kurt never resent...

 

[blue_bleeder]

Put in my first Etre order yesterday. Told them to wait until March 1 to ship to avoid the weather. Got the max on Rose!! Hope this works. The only better way to get this stuff is to keep trading with HenrikO...

 

[Compton25]

Put in my first Etre order yesterday. Told them to wait until March 1 to ship to avoid the weather. Got the max on Rose!! Hope this works. The only better way to get this stuff is to keep trading with HenrikO...

 

[ASUBeer]

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

Just realized that all of the news with terrorist cells in Belgium might be why shipments coming in to customs from Belgium might be more thoroughly inspected and hung up.

 

[GuisseppeFranco]

Just realized that all of the news with terrorist cells in Belgium might be why shipments coming in to customs from Belgium might be more thoroughly inspected and hung up.

Terrorists won again.

 

[csano]

Just realized that all of the news with terrorist cells in Belgium might be why shipments coming in to customs from Belgium might be more thoroughly inspected and hung up.

That would make sense. I was talking to Kurt the other day and he said he's been having problems with customs at LAX for the past month or so. He said boxes haven't been moving.

 

[ASUBeer]

Terrorists won again.

I've been a passive observer for years. But now they are ******* up my lambic shipments? It's on.

 

[ASUBeer]

I'm pretty sure my 2011 3F Oude Goozies are going to explode in my cellar/fridge one day. Everytime I open one, the cork shoots off harder than the last time.

 

[cosmicevan]

I've got a box coming from Belgium. The bpost tracking says "retained at customs: unknown reason". The USPS has the normal "inbound in to customs."

Anything I should be worried about?

I'm in the exact same boat right now. It's only been a few days but I've never seen this before. Has anyone had the "retained at customs" thing actually turned into a confiscated box?

i had a box from de struise web shop get stuck in customs and ended up having to pay some BS customs fee that resulted in an unexpected $40 to get my box, but it was full of special kay, double black and a bunch of stuff that i wasn't about to let go of for $40

 

[isaac11]

Wasn't sure how much longer the '13 3F 750s would last so made my 1st Etre order!

 

[kscaldef]

i had a box from de struise web shop get stuck in customs and ended up having to pay some BS customs fee that resulted in an unexpected $40 to get my box, but it was full of special kay, double black and a bunch of stuff that i wasn't about to let go of for $40

By which you mean "having to pay customs". Etre and biab misdeclare everything they ship. Other European (liquor) shops that do things on the up and up reliably get things to you in a couple days, in my experience.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Ticking a Tilquin squared...

Oak.. oak... oak.

Reckon it'll age amazingly tho. 15 years?

 

[owens99]

By which you mean "having to pay customs". Etre and biab misdeclare everything they ship. Other European (liquor) shops that do things on the up and up reliably get things to you in a couple days, in my experience.

I'm only familiar with Etre and biab and would probably be willing to pay more for the extra peace of mind in doing things properly. But I don't know of any other European shops that ship to the U.S. Any specific recommendations?

 

[SeaWatchman]

By which you mean "having to pay customs". Etre and biab misdeclare everything they ship. Other European (liquor) shops that do things on the up and up reliably get things to you in a couple days, in my experience.

I'm looking at my customs declarations from previous BiaB orders and don't see where Kurt has misdeclared anything. Do you have an example of what you're talking about?

 

[Upyours77]

I'm only familiar with Etre and biab and would probably be willing to pay more for the extra peace of mind in doing things properly. But I don't know of any other European shops that ship to the U.S. Any specific recommendations?

Try BeerMania or Beer Planet. Good shops

 

[brian4beer]

Try BeerMania or Beer Planet. Good shops

BeerMania home of the 5000 euro MG, 50th, and 99....is that for real?

http://www.beermania.be/allnewbm.php?pcon=Lambic&b_cat=Lambic

Wtf?

 

[SeaWatchman]

Try BeerMania or Beer Planet. Good shops

Up yours.

 

[Upyours77]

BeerMania home of the 5000 euro MG, 50th, and 99....is that for real?

http://www.beermania.be/allnewbm.php?pcon=Lambic&b_cat=Lambic

Wtf?

I met this guy. He prized them like this to provoke. You wont actually be able to buy them. As far as i understood he owed taxes and had to put them out there. But avoid the vintage stuff at this one. Bas experience!

 

[owens99]

I met this guy. He prized them like this to provoke. You wont actually be able to buy them. As far as i understood he owed taxes and had to put them out there. But avoid the vintage stuff at this one. Bas experience!

So... thanks for recommending, I guess?