I just bottled a brown ale and would really love to take one down to my brother-in-law in Florida (I always take him Oregon beers). Obviously he would have instructions to store it until it’s done. Is it okay to take still-carbonating beer on a plane or is that a bad idea?
My gut is telling me that having the beer on it’s side and shaking around while it’s still working might not be such a good idea, but I thought I’d see what you all think. Thanks!
(I’ve never bottle conditioned)
But, put it in your checked luggage, and my guess is you’ll be fine.
yeah it’ll be fine. no worries. just give it some time to settle after the trip.
If there is any chance at all of a “bottle bomb”, I would not even consider it. If you don’t mind possibly pissing off hundreds of co passengers and a possible very public “colonoscopy”-- go for it.
I dont get this post at all. It’s going to be in a checked bag, well packed by somebody who’s clearly packed beer in luggage before.
To the OP, it’ll be fine. Just let it sit and settle afterwards. RDWHAHB
put it in a ziplock and don’t worry about it
What is not to get, the TSA doesn’t like things that explode in your baggage. Of course it’s being checked it has to be, but that is irrelevant. Of course he will let it sit, it isn’t carbed - he just bottled it, and stated he was gonna leave directions about letting it sit. How do you know it will be well packed- but again irrelevant. A beer in the process of carbing is a risky proposition for air/mail travel, and could lead to problems for the flyer/mailer.
I would think that a beer in the process of carbing is less risky than one that already has pressure from carbonation.
Could ship it the old fashioned way if there is any doubt.
“Friends don’t let friends drink bad beer”
Not to worry. It’s not like will it be exposed to the vacuum of space. Most aircraft keep a lower cabin pressure than where I lived in Colorado (7200’.) No bottle bombs there, and none going over 11,995’ passes.
Once on the plane, no one would notice a bottle exploding in baggage… I don’t think there is an increased risk whatsoever from flying. If it’s gonna be a bottle bomb, it will happen- somewhere. I was just envisioning where the check in person puts it on an the conveyor and as it goes off-boom. Probable or even a slight chance -not hardly, impossible -no.
Cheap way to get your beer on tv.
“Friends don’t let friends drink bad beer”
Thanks for the feedback, guys. This is my first batch, so I just wanted to be sure all the jostling wouldn’t screw anything up.
As far as bursting bottles go, that would be the worst place for it to happen, but assuming I did everything correctly, it shouldn’t be a problem. Plus it will only be in it’s first week of conditioning on the way down there.
I think there are plenty of key words in this thread to get you on a watch list, but I could be wrong. I hear Gitmo is nice this time of year LOL
“Friends don’t let friends drink bad beer”
I was starting to worry about that, myself…
I had considered doing this myself the last time I flew out to see an old college buddy. I spoke to someone at the airline (Southwest) and they advised that bringing beer (either carry on or checked) onto a plane is not a problem as long as the beer is in a clearly labelled (aka commercial) bottle. When I told her that my homebrew was in a plain brown bottle she advised against it. Not wanted to risk losing some of my precious beer (not to mention some of my dignity during the inevitable cavity search) I ended up shipping it instead.
Aha, good to know, thank you! That is a good point, and I am flying Southwest.
You can print out labels that look commercial enough that someone picking through your luggage will not know the difference. Or you can put it in bottles that still have the labels on them. You can’t bring it on the plane anyway, I would just put it in your luggage and not worry about it. I have never had problems.
Ive never had an issue checking homebrew or unlabeled bottles. And even if one does blow in your bag, they work case is beer soaked clothes with glass fragments. It will not rupture a bag or cause a safety issue for the plane.
I wouldn’t worry about this. Southwest is the most easy-going airline. I’ve brought all kinds of homebrew across the country on their planes. What they frown on (but don’t punish at all) is bringing your own little liquor bottles on the plane. 8)