The Most Brew You've Brought Home from The US via flight?

zombi69 · Post by **zombi69** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:01 am

Just trying to get an idea on what I can bring back from Florida via plane. Thoughts, suggestions or recommendations?

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:04 am

From Newark to Toronto Centre, about 8 litres of various sizes split between two suitcases with no real extra planning or packing equipment -- just ziplock bags, socks, and shirts. Any extra planning (e.g. extra space, bottle packing cases, etc) and you could bring a fair bit more.

zombi69 · Post by **zombi69** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:09 am

nickw wrote:From Newark to Toronto Centre, about 8 litres of various sizes split between two suitcases with no real extra planning or packing equipment -- just ziplock bags, socks, and shirts. Any extra planning (e.g. extra space, bottle packing cases, etc) and you could bring a fair bit more.

Sadly, I'll only have the one suitcase. How much we're you able to get into the one? Is there an extra charge if the suitcase is a certain weight? I believe the limit is 50lbs or something like that?

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:17 am

With the larger suitcase, probably about 5 litres? (maybe 4 bombers, a couple of cans, 5ish regular sized bottles... could've fit more, but because that was a summer flight, I didn't have many bigger articles of clothing to cushion them. I'm pretty sure I came in at right about 50 pounds all in.

I'd leave some room in a carry-on to throw some shoes or other heavier pieces if you come in a bit overweight at the check-in counter.

Kekumba · Post by **Kekumba** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:20 am

5 bombers and 7 355ml bottles divided between two suitcases (Midway-CityCentre-Ottawa). Nothing broke, but I should have put them in ziplock bags. Otherwise, just wrapped them in socks, stuck them in shoes, and jammed them between clothes. Customs asked nothing.

So, as many as you can safely fit in your suitcases, I guess. I think some people bring one just for beer.

nickw · Post by **nickw** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:21 am

In short, my advice would be to throw some large heavy-duty ziplocks in your luggage and just make sure you have a few larger cushioning articles of clothing (jackets, towels, etc) with you.

zombi69 · Post by **zombi69** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:31 am

I have some bubble wrap I'm bringing along as well.

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:07 am

About 5L for me, when I flew back from San Diego.
I simply went to Target and bought a cheap small suitcase for $20 and a whack of bubble wrap before dropping the rental car off and flying home.

People in the Target parking lot looked at me funny as I was doing my beer packing...

PeenSteen · Post by **PeenSteen** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:38 am

A sturdy hardshell suitcase is a good investment as well....Coming back from NYC last year I put most of my clothes in my GF's suitcase and brought back 6 bombers/750ml 7 12oz bottles and a 4 pack of Resin cans...all bubble wrapped and zip-locked.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:50 am

PeenSteen wrote:A sturdy hardshell suitcase is a good investment as well....

This!

I brought back about 6 bombers and 3 smaller sizes bottles form California and 4 bombers and 2 12 oz bottles from Italy using a medium sized Heys suitcase that was still under the 50 lb. limit both times. Solid investment.

groulxsome · Post by **groulxsome** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:51 am

I managed to bring this back from California last year in a bag not much bigger than a carry on.

(the wine bottle was not in my bag)

I just wrapped cloths and a newspaper from the hotel around all the bottles. I've shipped lots of beer in suitcases just with cloths wrapping them (mostly Mad Tom to Newfoundland) and never had a break.

grub · Post by **grub** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:20 am

zombi69 wrote:Just trying to get an idea on what I can bring back from Florida via plane. Thoughts, suggestions or recommendations?

if you don't mind paying for an extra "bag", i'm always fond of styro shippers. 12x750 travels quite well, and a few odds and ends in the suitcase. 12x750 is usually in the 35-40lb range, so trying to get that into your suitcase with other stuff starts to get close to overweight fees. Some cities/states have tons of styro shippers at the local liquor stores, others don't. When I was in orlando a couple years ago I searched high and low for a shipper but had no luck so i only brought a few things back in my suitcase.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:21 am

I once heard of someone who brought a 20L keg home on a plane.

spinrsx · Post by **spinrsx** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:21 am

watch out for the 750ml bottles, they will eat up your weight fast. Also most suitcases are around 10-12 pounds on their own, so you'll only have 38 pounds to work with.

I just got back from california last week and managed to bring 20 12oz bottles and 3 bombers. Suitcase was 52 pounds.. and they gave me grief when checking the bag. Also (as usual for me) TSA opened my bag and cut open my bubble wrap to check the bottles at one point. They leave a little card in the suitcase saying 'for your safety, TSA has inspected this bag' etc. They never pack up the bottles as good as I did in the first place, so it's annoying. I guess a suitcase full of individually wrapped mix and match bottles looks suspicious on the x-ray machine.

cfrancis · Post by **cfrancis** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:16 am

This is pic of my buddy's suitcase. He can bring back a case. But he's in the states and usually flies domestically so weight is not as much of an issue.

The Bar Towel

The Most Brew You've Brought Home from The US via flight?

The Most Brew You've Brought Home from The US via flight?

Re: The Most Brew You've Brought Home from The US via flight