My recent beer trip to the States

General Beer Discussion by MITCHFORGIE

I thought I should share this, many in the States may or may not understand the hunger that is sometimes felt for new beers, and the lengths one might go to get it... but here it is: beercronic and I decided to split a case of Mother of All Storms. Thats the easy part. Jeff orders it and has it shipped to Point Roberts, WA. This is not uncommon, especially with special beers like this, as you would not want to have it stuck at customs for weeks or perhaps forever. Point Roberts emails me, the beer has arrived. Of course one does not want to pay the "price equalization tax" plus 12.5% duty to bring the beer across the border, so you kind of count on ignorance or something at the border, that if you are bringing 12 beers across that they just dismiss them as a bunch of Budwisers or something. This time though, as opposed to the other times I have done this, I slept in on my one day I was able to drive the 4 hours from Kamloops to Point Roberts. I got out of Kamloops at noon and the shipping place closes at 5:30. Being before Christmas I sure hope there is no traffic or line ups at the border. Good, I made it fine. Pick up the beer. Pulling out of the parking lot the old gas station across the street says "new craft beer in stock!". I have to go check it out. This is where I hump the dog. They have a pile of beers I haven't had before. They are not even incredible ones! 21A's IPA, Alaskan Winter Ale, FW Velvet Merlin, Deschutes Jubelale, a couple others. All only available in 6 packs though. Oh well, I'll buy em all anyways I thought, on my last trip to Portland I brought back something like 60 beers and got away with it (though I was there for a week, not 7 minutes). Cross the border, pass across the passport. "Sir, any alcohol or tobbacco with you?" "Yes sir, I have about 50 beers." "Please pull over here to the side sir." (shit) "Whats all this beer worth sir?" "Its all like 6 packs of craft beer you can't get in Canada, bought $9 bucks a six pack" "And whats in this box here from Pelican Brewery?" "12 real special beers sir" "Cost?" "Something like $6 a bottle (I think this will be believable as this guy probably pays that for a 6 pack)" "Do you have a receipt for them" I don't, I explain the whole shipping process and how Jeff payed for them. He looks up the price of the beer. Charges me $130 tax. I humped the dog, just for some six packs of average craft brew. Fail!