How do you send beer to a competition?

[grudlann]

I'm thinking of entering my first competion. How do I send the bottles? Put them in a box and take it to the post office? Do you tell them it's beer?

[bub]

DO NOT TELL THEM IT IS BEER
just send it WELL wrapped (box in a box) and if questioned say it is live yeast cultures.
BUB

[Dr Scott]

I'm thinking of entering my first competion. How do I send the bottles? Put them in a box and take it to the post office? Do you tell them it's beer?

Don't use the post office either, UPS or fedex Bubble Wrap and a trash bag

[sourbeerguy]

Place bottle label/entry form around bottle(s) and secure with rubber band. You can put them in a sandwich bag if you're worried about condensation making them illegible.

Wrap each bottle in bubble wrap but don't overdo the tape (makes it hard to unpack).

Place entries in a box lined with a trash bag.

An alternative, is either making or reusing a bottle mailer like those used in the beer of the month clubs.

Whatever you do, don't use packing peanuts. They do no good in safeguarding the bottles and are a PITA for the unpacking folks. They make me want to disqualify any entry that comes packed in them.

A good test is to take the packed box and drop it from a couple feet. If it doesn't make noise or break, you're good to go.

Don't use the USPS; it's illegal to ship alcohol with them. Use Fedex, UPS, or DHL just don't tell them it's beer. People sometimes butt heads with employees who don't understand their _real_ shipping policy. It's best to create the shipping label online and drop the package off at either a company store or authorized pickup location (or throw it on your company's outgoing pile).

Joe