How do you guys legally mail homebrews to friends or competitions
Mailing home brew can depend upon the laws of your State. In some states it is illegal to take home brew out of your domicile. Some States have made exceptions for charity or competitions. Start by looking for your State laws.
You cannot mail alcohol via the USPS. It is illegal unless you have a license. Fed Ex has rules against it unless you have a licence and agreement with Fed Ex. UPS may be the exception. You can be liable for damages if a package leaks.
You cannot legally mail homebrew. You can ship it with Fedex, DHL, UPS but they have policies against it so you can’t tell them what it is.
This^^^^^. If they even ask, I usually tell them its books (for the weight) and fancy juice drinks (for any sloshing of liquids they may here in the box).
I just say it’s “gifts”.
UPS (I bet Fedex does this too) has a website where you can make the label and pay on line. Then you drop it off without telling them anything. By the way, I haven’t been asked, yet.
I take 2 boxes the same size and force one into the other. This makes a double tough shell. Then I pack with bubble wrap nice and tight so nothing can move. I buy and print a label…Then someone in a little white truck picks it up from my front porch. I know mom…
I started shipping in a cooler packed tight in a box after I got a legal letter from FedEx They return my beer in a different box and none of the bottles were damaged Thanks everyone who chimed in
One year at GABF, I shipped bottles home to myself. They were actually cherry juice, not alcoholic. I went to a Staples, bought a box, wrap, and tape. Went out to the car to box up the bottles, then brought them back to the shipping guy. He asked what it was (the store was right near a huuuge liquor and beer store), and I told him it was cherry juice. He looked at me, I looked back at him, and said open it up if you don’t believe me. And he did.