Has anyone noticed how difficult it is to ship booze lately? I got turned away from UPS twice today trying to ship 2 bottles of brandy.
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Shipping booze
- Thread starter MAJOR METAL
- Start date
I've had a few cases of wine shipped to me recently with no problem. Although - a few of the wineries have asked to delay the shipments until the weather cools off a little - could that be it?
I assume you're aware of whether the state you're shipping to allows liquor shipments.
I assume you're aware of whether the state you're shipping to allows liquor shipments.
I haven't noticed, but I am also filling my truck with six cases of Yuengling when I drive home later this month. 
Oh, and a few other tasty VT brews. Oh, and a few bottles of vodka from a new distillery in VT: http://www.silovodka.com/
-Mike
Oh, and a few other tasty VT brews. Oh, and a few bottles of vodka from a new distillery in VT: http://www.silovodka.com/
-Mike
AFAIK, UPS just won't do it from private parties.
After a wine-buying trip through the California Central Coast and Sierra Foothills regions a couple of years ago, we boxed what we couldn't fit into checked luggage and took it to The UPS Store in a Nevada city. Clerk carefully explained they were not permitted to ship alcohol and they didn't care where to. We patiently explained it was just olive oil in wine boxes. They didn't unpack the boxes to look inside, took our money, and a few days later the trove arrived safely.
I don't know how the wineries and distilleries do it, but I expect they have negotiated special tarrifs and 'Adult Signature Required' handling.
As wine is neither perishible nor flammable, it's not a safety factor, and anyway it was shipped ground. Brandy _is_ flammable tho...
After a wine-buying trip through the California Central Coast and Sierra Foothills regions a couple of years ago, we boxed what we couldn't fit into checked luggage and took it to The UPS Store in a Nevada city. Clerk carefully explained they were not permitted to ship alcohol and they didn't care where to. We patiently explained it was just olive oil in wine boxes. They didn't unpack the boxes to look inside, took our money, and a few days later the trove arrived safely.
I don't know how the wineries and distilleries do it, but I expect they have negotiated special tarrifs and 'Adult Signature Required' handling.
As wine is neither perishible nor flammable, it's not a safety factor, and anyway it was shipped ground. Brandy _is_ flammable tho...
You can get it in Concord, NH, Framingham, MA, and New Haven, CT. Go get it yourself hoser!
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-Mike
See? Invalid Link Removed
-Mike
I haven't noticed, but I am also filling my truck with six cases of Yuengling when I drive home later this month.
Oh, and a few other tasty VT brews. Oh, and a few bottles of vodka from a new distillery in VT: http://www.silovodka.com/
-Mike
Yeungling? Really?
Heck yeah. I love it. I don't need to hear your story about how much it sucks and how many other better beers are out. I don't proclaim it to be the best around, but I like it and it's great to serve when my friends from PA are all over for a game. I am originally from PA, Altoona to be exact.
-Mike
-Mike
That and they don't ship west of the Mississippi. Whenever my old roommate would visit his family in PA he'd always come back with as much Yuengling as he could fit in the back of his Suburban.
It was beautiful.
Yep. It will be most awesome to crack open some cold bottles of Yuengling lager this winter while watching some football or hockey with my buddies. Even betetr when my buddies from PA are over to weatch with me. Yuengling, some pierogies, and Primanti's sandwich knock offs.....mmmmmmm.
Is your old roommate named Matt? My cousin from Altoona lives in San Antonio now. His name is Matt. He owns a Suburban and made trips back to our hometown, Altoona, to see family and get Yuengling while he was there anyway, ya know.
-Mike
Is your old roommate named Matt? My cousin from Altoona lives in San Antonio now. His name is Matt. He owns a Suburban and made trips back to our hometown, Altoona, to see family and get Yuengling while he was there anyway, ya know.
-Mike
Yep. It will be most awesome to crack open some cold bottles of Yuengling lager this winter while watching some football or hockey with my buddies. Even betetr when my buddies from PA are over to weatch with me. Yuengling, some pierogies, and Primanti's sandwich knock offs.....mmmmmmm.
Is your old roommate named Matt? My cousin from Altoona lives in San Antonio now. His name is Matt. He owns a Suburban and made trips back to our hometown, Altoona, to see family and get Yuengling while he was there anyway, ya know.
-Mike
No, my name's Matt
My roommate's name was Houston and we lived together while we were both in grad school in Missouri. He's originally from Girard.
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
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- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
Pretty sure it's a tax thing. Different states have different tax rates for liquor (built into the price). Technically what you're describing is considered bootlegging.
Never heard of it. I'll probably just wait it out and find a good beer store in the states once I get a car. If I stay for 48h I'm allowed to bring back 8 Liters taxfree
If I bring a non-beerfan friend it goes up to 16 
Thanks for the offer!
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
How am I supposed to become a private importer (ie. fancy drunk) with all those regulations
I want to try some of your microbrews badly. Russian River, dogfishhead and stone just to name a few.
I was just at the Stone Brewery last month. There are a few quality pubs around that serve Russian River on tap (Pliney the Elder on nitrogen is tasty), and I still have a Dogfishhead in the fridge just waiting for the right occasion.
I would highly recommend a trip to San Diego. We're microbrew heaven.
As for issues with shipping, blame the feds, not the shippers. UPS would love to have your business, unfortunately our puritanical views on alcohol make shipping grandma that bottle of Riesling for Christmas a PITA.
