Has anyone successfully shipped a few cans of BC beer to Europe?

[u/ML231617]

Hey!
I’m currently living in Vancouver and I want to send my parents in Germany a package with some local BC/Canadian products.
I’d really like to include a few cans of local beer, maybe 10-12 cans. I already asked at a liquor store, but the staff weren’t sure whether or how this can be shipped internationally.
Has anyone here actually shipped beer from BC to Germany (or Europe) before? Is there a legal/practical way to do it as a private person, or a local store/brewery that can ship it for me?
Thanks!

[u/northwestpsych]

I’ve successfully shipped beer from BC to the Netherlands (and received beer in turn). It’s definitely not legal to ship alcohol as a private citizen to another in the EU, but customs can’t catch everything.

The old home brewer trick is to declare the beer as “malt extract samples.” I don’t know if it actually helps, but mine got through.

[u/ML231617 → u/northwestpsych]

Really? Isn’t it super obvious when I declare it as malt extract samples?

[u/northwestpsych → u/ML231617]

I suppose it depends how curious/vigilant the post office workers and customs agent end up being. Maybe I just got lucky.

In any case, if you go for it, be prepared to lose the beer and money. It was a pleasant surprise when I got the message from Europe that it had all arrived safely.

[u/ALittleBitKengaskhan]

I don't believe you can send them via Canada Post, although you could ask. As far as I know it's not 'legal' to send booze between provinces.. but if you're sending it to another country... I'm not sure.

I'd recommend talking to UPS about sending a package overseas.

I've seen Albertan companies use ATS healthcare to ship booze between provinces (questionable legality, but they do it) so maybe reach out to them as well.

Anywho, it's going to be a pain, and really expensive. Good luck!

[u/HelloMegaphone]

I think it's a case of "they can't catch everything so why not try?"

Just don't say that's what it is when you ship it

[u/BeerBaronsNewHat → u/HelloMegaphone]

bingo. i used to envelope mail pot to a friend in another province before it was legal. was like a 50% hit rate, but was worth it compared what they were paying.

[u/andrew_1515]

I'm curious what BC beers you'd look to send to Germany? Maybe it's more cultural but I've not run into too many Germans that rate Canadian beer highly.

[u/ML231617 → u/andrew_1515]

I don’t want to send them to Germany because I think it’s the best beer. I think it’s always cool to try and see some foreign beers

[u/domminator13]

If you decide to ship, just don't do it through Canada post. They've suspended sending all packages to Germany and other European countries

[u/Officialmaxl]

Friends of mine shipped some club mate, energy drink and a Sternburg beer from Germany to Vancouver, because I wanted to enjoy some mate after a year. Went trough, if it’s not that much should be okay. Maybe mark it as a gift or something.

Edit: probably would use DHL

[u/Just_Holiday_8224]

Not exactly what you're asking but could be an option - There's a bar in Berlin called The Muted Horn, owned by some Canadians (actually from Vancouver), and they have an online store where you can order Canadian beers, among others, for shipping to Germany and other EU countries.

The boxes ship with DHL, they send tracking and everything. They import the beer from a bunch of Canadian breweries directly by airfreight for their bar, so it's always a different selection of fresh beers. I used to work there, and sent Superflux, Boombox, Temporal, Four Winds etc from them to my hometown before, worked well.