How to Legally Ship Craft Beer: Shipping Local Beer Safely
Have you ever wanted to expand your business by shipping beer to customers? Perhaps you simply want to ship some craft beer from your favorite breweries to some friends. You will quickly find that there are significant things that you need to check in order to ship beer safely and legally. Let’s take a look.
Process for Legally Shipping Beer
If you are interested in shipping beer, there are a few things you need to consider in order to ship it legally. In the United States, the rules for shipping beer vary significantly from state to state. This can be confusing for shippers as well as shipping companies.
For breweries wanting to ship beer, the process is quite simple. First, you need a special license, which you typically obtain from your state. Next, you will need to enter into a shipping agreement with a company such as FedEx or UPS. These contracts are necessary because shipping companies do not allow alcohol shipments otherwise.
However, shipping beer can be a bit more complex because you also need to ensure that you are abiding by your state’s alcohol laws. This becomes even more complicated if you are shipping across state lines. Any company shipping across state lines must abide by the laws of both their state and the recipient’s state.
How to Safely Ship Beer
Fortunately, the process for safely shipping beer is much less complex than the legal loopholes you need to jump through. First, you want to use a sturdy box, ideally one with double walls. This provides extra protection and shock absorption.
Ideally, you will use something like these beer shippers, which hold each can in place, preventing them from being jostled, damaged, or broken while in transit. These can easily fit into a box and even be stacked to maximize your space and are a great way for breweries who want to be able to ship directly to customers.
When shipping beer, you will also want to write “fragile” on the outside of the box. If you are particularly concerned about potential damage, you can even wrap the beer shippers with bubble wrap.
Another key consideration is tape. Ensure that the box is well-taped so that it won’t come upon during transit. Finally, you want to pay attention to the weather. Shipping beer during very hot weather is not advisable.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are looking to ship beer to customers or simply package a few six packs for your friend across the country, this information details how to legally and safely ship your favorite craft beer.