So I found a craft brew that I love and it's only available in growlers. Any suggestions for flying from Madison, WI to C/S TX with a full growler in checked luggage?

Other than placing in the center of my bag and double - bagging with oversized Ziplocks, not sure what else to try.

I'd consider FedExing it to myself. Seems like something that could trigger the TSA xray, and that might be confiscated by a beer-loving TSA employee.

I travel with bottles of liquor all of the time in my checked baggage and never have any issues.

With a growler id take extra spill precaution however due to their lids. Id probably wrap it in a few plastic bags like you mentioned and forget about it.

Is it the Belgian IPA from that brewery right by the airport? If so that stuff is legit.

Belgian Abbey, but same brewery- Ale Asylum.

Wrap it very, very well in bubble wrap. Baggage handlers aren't known for handling bags with care.

Max, make sure the lid is taped up well, and bubble wrap like Htown said. Also, when you check your bag, you can request that they place a fragile sticker on there. Not sure how helpful it will be, but couldn't hurt.

You should also check out New Glarus fruited ales. Their Raspberry Tart, Belgian Red, and Serendipity. I have only had the Serendipity so far, but it was delicious. I have the other two, but saving them for bottle shares. And really, any other New Glarus beers you can get your hands on. They make great stuff.

Oh, you might even pilfer a towel or two from the hotel to wrap up the growler in after you bubble wrap it. Pack the suitcase as tightly as possible so it can't shift around too much. Also try not to let the growler touch any of the sides of the suitcase. So a good layer of clothes all around it. Also, maybe put it in a couple of trash bags in case it does leak or get broken in transit.

spotted cow is my go to beer up there, but ale asylum makes great brew.

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I travel with bottles of liquor all of the time in my checked baggage and never have any issues.

With a growler id take extra spill precaution however due to their lids. Id probably wrap it in a few plastic bags like you mentioned and forget about it.

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no extra issues for beer w/pressure and carbonation?

Biobio - not really. I've flown several times with beer in my checked bag and never had an issue.

When I go to Memphis, I fly back with a couple of growlers and/or 6-12 bottles of Ghost River. As others have said, I just put them in ziplocks, then wrap them up good inside some clothes.

Most of the time when I get home and open my suitcase there's one of those slips of paper inside that let you know that TSA opened your bag to have a closer look, but I've never had anything go missing or break.

Turns out that the beer I want was available in 6 packs. Bought 2 and going to FedEx to myself.

FYI a large flat FedEx one-rate box will hold 10 appropriately wrapped bottles. Guess I'll HAVE to drink the other 2. Shucks.

Why Fedex to yourself? Just wrap the bottles in clothes and put them in your suitcase.

Because it would make my bag overweight. Fedex is cheaper than paying for an overweight bag.

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Why Fedex to yourself? Just wrap the bottles in clothes and put them in your suitcase.

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Because losing a $120 bottle of wine and having red-tinged clothes sucks ass.

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Why Fedex to yourself? Just wrap the bottles in clothes and put them in your suitcase.

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Because losing a $120 bottle of wine and having red-tinged clothes sucks ass.

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For a $120 bottle of wine, I would agree. This was two six packs of beer. Not exactly the same thing.

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Because it would make my bag overweight. Fedex is cheaper than paying for an overweight bag.

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Makes sense. Next time pack accordingly! Whenever I go to Denver or Cali, I always try to make sure there is room in the suitcase to bring back a six pack or two of something I can't get here.

Considering my trip is 8 days, in the cattle industry, and in Madison (cold), there wasn't too much extra room.

Are you sure you'll go over 50lbs? Or instead of shipping the beer, maybe ship home some clothes to make room. Not against the law to do that and much less expensive weight wise.

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Are you sure you'll go over 50lbs? Or instead of shipping the beer, maybe ship home some clothes to make room. Not against the law to do that and much less expensive weight wise.

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That's a good idea.
I did that once when we bought wine Oregon.

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My bag was 36# on the way up. Shipped box of yeast samples was 14# per FedEx, so it would have been very close to the 50# limit.

1 bottle and 1 empty growler made the return trip unscathed in my checked luggage.

Cool. Glad everything made it back in the luggage. Hope your fedex arrives safe and sound as well!

Not to hijack the thread, but where might one find one of those wine totes that you can use for bombers? I need to get one for all the game day bottle shares.

My Houston buddy just came to visit and we couldn't find any. We kept them in the liquor/wine box the sore puts them in (qty 6), then put that inside a 16x16x16 box with bubble wrap lining the insides. About $20 to ship.

Jock,

thewinecheck.com is where I got mine. They are great.

Pretty good to know shady people in high up places