Bringing Back Beer from Europe

Now I agree that Belgium beer is really good but seriously, there are great mico-brews in the US that are just as good. Here in San Diego we have, among others, Stone Brewery. You HAVE to have some great mico's in Seattle. I'm a fan of on-tap micro brews myself. Some of the bottled stuff is darn good as well. Bottled beer is NOT worth hauling back unless you have a home sick native of Belgium in which case I'd bring back a couple (remember it'll have to be in checked luggage unless you are travelling direct from London to Seattle).

You're allowed to bring in up to one liter of alcohol duty free. After that, you can bring more but you will pay duty on it. Duty is 3%.

I occassionally pack a few bottles of stuff not available in the US. I've transported as many as 6 bottles, and never had any problem.

BTW- don't bother packing Chimay, Hoegaarden Wit, Stella Artois, Westmalle, Duvel, Orval, Lindemann's, Leffe, Korsendonk, Kwaak, Kristal or Jupiler. They're all widely available in the US... well, not Kristal or Jupiler, but that would be like taking Miller Lite to Europe.

As mentioned, for wine, beer or liquor,while there are limits on what you can bring back duty-free, there are two very important maxims on that rule: One; there is no limit as to what you can bring back, except what you might be willing to pay in excess baggage fees. Pre-restrictions, my wife and I once brought back 60 bottles of wine between carry on and checked. Two; you need to declare what you bring back, and be prepared to pay duty...but in a dozen international trips, bringing back alcohol (including the 60 bottles above), I have never had to pay duty (and have never heard of anyone having to pay) on return. I think the administrative effort is great unless you might owe hundreds. Basically, pack it well, you will be fine.

Ha Tom, I've brought Jupiler back before...

I don't know about Belgian beer, but Germany beer (made in Germany) has an expiration date because they don't put the preservatives in it that the US does. I've had serious beer drinkers tell me it makes a difference (after 3 who would know?) Bring it back, I've never had to pay customs either, or you can ship but that'll add to the cost.

As much as you can carry.

But seriously. You live in SEATTLE! You have all kinds of good beer there and you can buy any Belgian beer you want there!

160 miles down the road, I'm three blocks from a grocery store that stocks 37 different Belgian beers.

I think it is funny that you can find nearly any Belgian beer you want in the US, but I have trouble down in Italy, which is so much closer geographically! The Italians just aren't as into it, I guess....

I can only find some of the bigger names (Chimay, Hoegaadren, Stella, etc.) But so far, no Lindemanns, Petrus, Piraat, or Delerium....

"but Germany beer (made in Germany) has an expiration date because they don't put the preservatives in it that the US does"

The only preservatives put in any beer (US included) are hops.

Hi, Kat. I've come through SEATAC with beer before, and no questions asked, they didn't ask me to pay duty. (Though as said above, they could have.).

I'd bring them back. It's unique to have the bottles from over there, with local labeling, not US labeling, etc, and some of the foreign beer companies have breweries in different places, and the taste does vary.

My friends loved it when I brought them back beer. :)

I'd suggest bringing back something unavailable here. If you want that unique non-American label as mentioned above, use a flat razor blade to scrape the barcode of the back of the otherwise identical bottles of identical beer you can purchase on your next visit to se. Portland.

Kat, check out Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown: http://www.fullthrottlebottles.com/. They import beer and wine from all over the world.
If they don't have the beer you're looking for, just ask....

As far as bringing back liquor from Europe goes, it will of course have to go in your checked luggage and be packed well. I thought there was a limit, but don't know for sure....

Either way, good luck, and have a great trip!