[snook32]

Hey, first time entry into the competition and can't find info on shipping the beers cold or not. Any help would be grateful.

[hopfenundmalz]

Would help, especially if you have lagers.

Pack it in a sturdy box, make sure the bottle(s) can't touch, use a lot of bubble wrap.  You can line with styrofoam if you wish.  Put the whole box in the frige overnight, and before you ship put a freezer pack in and seal it up.

[tygo]

I'm considering whether I want to ship cold or warm as well.  My only worry with cold shipping is whether the condensation that forms as the bottles warm in shipping will soak the bottle label and whether I should be concerned about that or not.

[snook32]

Thanks, hopfenundmalz

[hopfenundmalz]

Thanks, hopfenundmalz

For excellent advice on packaging and shipping to competitions, get Gordon Strong's book "Brewing Better Beer".

[narvin]

The weather this time of year is not extreme, so I personally wouldn't bother going through the trouble of shipping cold or overnight.  It's going to be in a cellar temp truck or warehouse somewhere along the way, most likely.  If you are careful to avoid oxidation during your brewing process, going from cold to warm to cold is not really much of an issue.  But it's your choice.  Just make sure nothing you put in there to keep it cold will leak.