Go UPS and follow these instructions and you should be fine. These are instructions from a member of another forum I post on so all the pictures and directions belong to Sparkchaser.
I think there is another OT beer exchange in the works as well, so I decided to share with you my technique for shipping bottles of delicious, refreshing "root beer".
As you know, shipping alcohol via the USPS is verboten. I think this has more to do with the exchange of alcohol over state borders than "safety", but whatever. If the box never leaks then they won't know what's in it, will they? I suppose that is more a philosophical question anyway.
Anyhoo, let's begin, shall we?
You're going to need:
Your "root beer".
Plastic shopping bags. You will want one per bottle but two is more desirable. Paper bags works just as well and maybe a bit better. If you don't have bags, then use newspaper.
Scissors.
Newspaper. Lots of it..
Packing tape. Duct tape works too but don't use it to seal your box. Use packing tape for that.
Bubble wrap. I tend to save bubble wrap from stuff that comes to me in the mail.
Box to ship your "root beer". I recommend the USPS flat rate priority mail flat rate medium box.
Optional: Ziplock gallon sized bags.
The "root beer":
The materials:
The Process:
1. If you have the gallon-sized ziplock bags, stick one bottle into one, roll the bag around it forcing the air out, then zip it shut. Tape the bag going from top to bottom of the bottle.
2. Stick the bottle into a bag and wrap the bag around the bottle. Then tape it end over end instead of round the bottle.
When you are done, they should look like this:
3. If you are using newspaper instead of plastic (or paper) bags, roll the news paper around the bottle. Use multiple sheets. Five should be plenty.
4. Get your box. I don't have access to USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes at the moment so use your imagination.
5. Line the bottom of the box with bubble wrap. If you do not have bubble wrap, then start wadding up newspaper. Cover the bottom with tightly wadded newspaper. I have bubble wrap.
Edit: Recent USPS experience has shown that only using bubble wrap probably won't cut it, so line the bottom, sides and top with tightly wadded newspaper.
6. Wrap the bottle in bubble wrap. Normally I tape this up too but since I am going to be drinking at least one of these, I don't want to waste good bubble wrap.
7. Put the bottle in the box. The open areas stuff with packing peanuts, wadded newspaper, those air bags you get from amazon, bubble wrap, old underwear, whatever. The point is that you want to fill that void with something soft and that will absorb blows.
8. Enclose a note if you want. Watch out because your penmanship might get called into question later.
9. Tape up the box and address.
10. When you go to the post office, if you have the choice of using the self-service kiosk, DO IT. That way you won't have to verbally answer any questions.
If you do decide to use a counter, if they ask if there is anything liquid or fragile, say yes but say that it is packed very well and it should be fine as long as it doesn't fall out of a plane or get run over. Are you shipping alcohol? No ma'am, this is root beer. Interesting bit of trivia: some root beers are very regional and are almost impossible to find outside of their home state. Kinda like micro brew beers. Isn't that interesting?
11. BOOM. Done.
Topic: Favorite Beer (Read 249334 times)