Dan Tobacco - Hamborger Veermaster pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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cruelraoul	04/19/2005	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I think that the other reviewers have represented my thoughts rather well. The hamburger beermaster is really pretty good. I actually find myself agreeing with the pros (tasty if smoked properly) and the cons (can become bitter through the bowl), and even the comparison (to Orlick GS). OGS seems more consistent to me, personally, but I do like this tobacco as well. It will work its way into the rotation with pleasure. Update: The cons seem more pronounced, and this one is finding less time in the rotation.
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OSR	03/05/2005	Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant
This is nice tobacco - but it must contain Burley and I definitely smell chocolate after rubbing the flakes out. The middle/roundness of this blend is far too robust for a pure virginia. Now, the added leaf may be another varietal but to my sense of taste it's burley. The chocolate? This is subtle but I promise that if you'll rub the flakes out and immediately smell what you've just rubbed.. it's chocolate. Pure VA reminds my nose of orange pekoe tea.. not Ghiradelli! Nice flake tobacco but this doesn't have the usual "woody and bright" flavor of the types of virginia flakes that I prefer. About halfway through the bowl the virginia started to peek it's head through the mix but it never developed much sweetness or sourness.. that doesn't make this a bad blend but it certainly isn't what I expected. From the first light I waited for the Virginia taste and this never really happened. Some compare this to Orlik Golden Sliced but frankly, I don't see it at all. OGS has that woody VA taste even though the burley is there. HV doesn't. Is it the chocolate? Could be. Is there more burley in HV? Could be. I believe it's a combination of both. The chocolate (or, what my smeller detects to be chocolate) is subtle yet once you look/smell for it, you'll find it - like Heinz Ketchup in McClellands blends. A good smoke, middle-weighted and rather monochromatic. This doesn't bite and provides the smoker with a nice experience. But, it's not a classic pure virginia flake, IMO. HV gains strength as you get into the meat of the bowl but at no time does it get strong. I'll smoke this on occasion but recommend Freiborg & Treyor "Cut Virginia Plug" as a weighty virginia with no bite.
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Fazby	12/21/2004	Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable
I like this Virginia. Whatever, if any, flavoring has been added is slight. I like the smell in the tin and the flavor when smoking it. This is one I keep on hand. Assuming Dan still sells a 250g tin, it is an interesting way to purchase this. The flakes were a good foot long as they didn't have to be cut to fit a 50g tin. They just folded them up to fit the larger tin.
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ajaj	11/23/2004	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
I was pleasantly surprised when first tried this tobacco. After smoking some F&T Cut Virginia Plug, I loaded up my Charatan expecting a light citrusy grassy virginian but, however, an earthy plain tobacco flavor was detected. I loved it. Some people may disagree but there are similarities between the flavor of Hamborger Veermaster and my old favorite, Samuel Gawith's Brown Rope #4. HV is not as strong as the rope but has a certain natural plain taste that's enjoyable. It is also slightly sweeter and smoother. Now, I know the description is virginian, but I swear there is a substantial amount of burley in HV. This is not a pure virginian tobacco. The smoke is wonderful, especially when you are outside grilling a steak and drinking a beer. A good solid no-nonsense tobacco.
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Ralph	11/15/2004	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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Beer	09/03/2004	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
A soft flake which rubs out with no effort, with a sweet natural honeyish smell in the tin. It burns well, slow and even no matter if you smoke it whole or fully rubbed out. A bit wet just after opening, but dries easily (if you don't, expect to have to pass a cleaner during smoke). It's a rather mild (taste-wise, not in nicotine) bright Virginia flake, with a taste that can have some similarities to Orlick Golden Sliced, but slightly richer and better. It has some sweetness, and some toasty notes, but there are tastier Virginias, and the second half of the bowl can be a bit "watery" (especially without drying the tobacco a bit) or slightly bitter, especially after some relights. Maybe there's some burley? A positive note is that this tobacco does not bite at all. If you like Limerick or MacBaren Navy Flake, try this one too: you should like it!
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Daniel Morlan	08/12/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Without a doubt, this is a "holy grail" smoke. VA at it's ultimate finest. Slow-burning, cool-smoking, nice, and sweet. VA's in my opinion is a tobacco for the experienced pipe smoker. Not because it is particularly dangerous, or hazardous, but because a neophyte most likely wouldn't have the ability to appreciate it until they've had at least 20 or 30 different pipe tobaccos. This is a fine, fine blend, and will be an integral staple in my collection. One of the absolute best VA's that I have ever been privileged to smoke. Hamborger Veermaster should be an award winning tobacco. Cheers! Daniel
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Briarabbit	07/07/2004	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant
A good Virginia flake, mild and smells like good hay in the tin. Not the best Virginia I've ever puffed, but this one is worth a try. It seems to have an aged taste and puffed slow the good Virginia flavour sweetly rolls out.Not bad at all.
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Mr. Dottle	06/24/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Make no mistake. Hamborger Veermaster is a great Virginia blend! It has no bite and I found it to be sweet and mild as described on the tin. Slow and sipped puffs, as recommended for all Virginias, especially enhanced the qualities of this tobacco. HV has good burn qualities and relights, although few, were very pleasurable. HV is/would be a great all day smoke. I rate this tobacco 9.9 out of 10.
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Eldrich	06/12/2004	Medium	None detected	Full	Pleasant
This is great stuff. Because of the tin, some people think this blend is called "Beermaster", which I think is amusingly appropiate because this is an excellent companion to a pint of lager. The predominant aroma is a delicious, mild Virginia. This tobacco also has a slightly sharp edge to the aftertaste, it reminds me of the cigarettes I used to smoke before. At first I didnt like it, but now I've grown used to it and even enjoy it. Flake purists might be distressed by the fact that this looks a bit messy in the tin, and it's a bit hard to extract a single intact flake. I don't mind, however. Usually I simply fold a couple of flakes, stick them in a Vauen Classic and rub some tobacco out on top for igniting. Once this gets going, it burns smoothly and evenly and doesn't need any relights. It leaves a clean and dry grey-white ash, and won't bite even an impatient, greedy smoker such as myself. An excellent tobacco, try it!
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	02/08/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
This is a wonderful looking classic Virginia flake. It comes in beautiful golden brown flakes and has a wonderful tin aroma. It just smells delicious, and it is. It burns quite well either rubbed out or when packed 'sausage style' and, perhaps most importantly, it doesn't bite, even when smoked too fast. It smokes cool from first light to ash. Like most Virginias, Veermaster has a very naturally sweet flavor which intensifies as it creeps towards the end of the bowl, yet it doesn't become overwhelming at all. It's not a terribly complex tobacco, but that's OK because it is delicious through and through. Very sweet & very pleasant, this tobacco would be a wonderful introduction to the world of Virginias for any neophyte. I definitely recommend the Beermaster.
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Rocketman	08/17/2003	Medium	None detected	Medium	Very Pleasant
This is a really beautiful flake. Opening a fresh tin you notice striations varying from a medium brown thru some lighter shades like a dark cream. Opening an aged tin, as I have just done, all the colors appear to be a few shades darker. The tin aroma is light and airy without any hint of the pequency which portends the dreaded "Devourer of Tongues". The strips are fairly pliable, making for an easy "pack". I tend to roll some up and gently load my pipe then rub up a bit for the top as an aid to getting a good light. After a few minutes of gentle puffing, it settles down to an extremely soft, creamy, smoke. It tastes sweet as a good virginia should but not in the way of any artificial flavors or toppings. No uncomfortable heat, no bite. True, it is a bit one dimentional but who cares as long as that dimention resides well into "The Zone"! I think it is a good start for those who want to get into Virginia Flakes without worryin' about suckin' on a blowtorch. As far as the "Wife Rating" (room note), my wife has never complained. Course I ain't seen her in 30 years. But while I sometimes miss the steady companionship, I am in the envyable position of smokeing my pipe to please myself. And I like it!!! In conclusion, don't be put off by my "smoke this on occasion" rating. I like my tobaccos aged and I've only got 4 six year old tins left, so I'm tryin' to make it stretch. Rating - 85 out of 100!
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LoisKelly	07/13/2003	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This blend is just too easy, and I can't think of a better recommendation for the first time VA flake smoker. Pack and burn are a complete no-brainer. Poor technique can cause any VA to nip at the tongue, but you would practically have to try to make this one bite. It looks dark and fairly imposing in the tin, but it's as smooth and carefree a flake as I can think of, marred only by an occasional hashness towards the end. The taste is a model of pure Virginia tocacco, if not particularly complex, sort of along the lines of an Old Gowrie- straight, simple, and proper. Nothing huge or ornery here. It is only modestly sweet, and completely devoid of the excessive tang that accompanies so many other flakes. Some may find this boring, and I can't rightly argue the point. Still, whenever I revisit this blend I am reminded of how satisfying a smooth, natural smoke can be.
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kcook	02/02/2003	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

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Tantric	01/15/2003	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
First impression: a mellow blend, very well done, but nothing more. Yet as you keep on smoking it, the blend gradually reveals itself as a rich, plentiful Virginia, oscillating in between the naturally sweet and the tangy-sour registers, exceedingly smooth, very well behaved and easy to smoke. As you progress down the bowl the undertones of this tobacco are enticing and absorbing. There are red wine notes, a bit of a toasted nuance, a trace of wooded aromas and, of course, a rounded Virginia tobacco flavor that captivates as well as sooths. I have been smoking this in a brand new Savinelli "Bing's favorite" smooth. There is such an understanding between pipe and tobaco, that I get the feeling that I am just participant (nay, an instrument)of a secret ritual. The flakes in HB come indeed moist, but IME (in my experience) they are perfectly smokable. I was amazed at the ease with which you can roll them into the bowl. They took to the light with no problem and the burning qualities were excellent. Equally interesting is the fact that there is no tongue bite whatsoever, and the aftertaste is mild and zesty (quite similar to Bjarne?s Flake de Luxe, though the latter is sweeter). A wonderful tobacco, rich in flavor, mild to medium in strength, that can be enjoyed any time, any where. IMO, a real Virginia winner. It should not be missed!
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howie	11/26/2002	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Pleasant
This is a tobacco that I found needed to be aired out in order to be smokable. Smoking a bowl immediately upon opening delivered a significant nasal burn. This was substantially reduced by letting the tobacco sit. In my case that was about two months, but I suspect that a week or two would be sufficient. My tin was unaged. This tobacco is packed as a thick flake, about two inches long. It rubs out nicely. My practice is generally to rub flakes out to the point that they are soft strands, which may not be to everyone?s taste. Initial flavor is fairly bright, but with a slightly nutty character. After a short DGT, the middle of the bowl grows in the intensity of flavor, but also startsto get slightly bitter/tarry. The bottom of the bowl continues this trend and becomes somewhat distracting. It is possible that some of the problems that I experienced had to do with smoking too quickly as a result of the full rubbing. I plan to give this another try less rubbed out to reduce the burning speed to see if this makes any difference. I will add to this review at that point. November 2002
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lustra	08/31/2002	Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Until Hamborger Veermaster, I have never enjoyed any tobacco with a sailing ship on the label. But having been fortified by the reliable delights of this smoke, I am ready to tackle more ship-, airplane-, and even dog-tobaccos. More seriously, I agree with the esteemed Eulenberg and the other reviewers concerning the excellence of this offering. It is fast becoming a go-to smoke for me and is particularly good in the summer heat. Thanks to Joshua Rosenblatt for his recommendation.
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Eulenburg	05/26/2002	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium	Very Pleasant
Because I found this somewhat heady, I classified it in the "medium-to-strong" range of strength; the taste, though, is somewhere between the mild FERNDOWN Mild Brown and the more robust RATTRAY Marlin Flake. Meaning that HAMBORGER is a delightfully supple and savoury Virginia, without a hint of the bloated quality of some stoved flakes, yet flavourful and very present. This is much better than Limerick (with its unnoticeable ghost Périque, bah!), has more personality than WESSEX Brigade, and is less predictable than Tordenskjold Virginia Slices. All told, one of the best pure-Virginia flakes I have ever smoked. Its room redolence is delectable. [P.S.: longer familiarity with this utterly delicious tobacco has only enhanced my affection for it. Highest recommendation. 5/'02]
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Pipestud	05/14/2002	Very Mild	Extremely Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant
If you want a toned down dose of Orlik Golden Slices, then this is the flake for you! It is very mild, frankly, almost flavorless. A slow burn is necessary to fully appreciate what little flavor there is. The leaf is of good quality, and the flake rubs out easily, but, is too moist at first. I let mine air dry for a couple of days before plowing into a second bowl. (I have not tried a third one yet, and I've had the tin for a month--if that says anything--hint!) If you want a bit more punch to your puff, go elsewhere young man. If, on the other hand, you enjoy smoking a Virginia as laid back as an old Bassett Hound, well, here you go.
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Strider	03/29/2002	Medium	None detected	Mild	Unnoticeable
I tried this tobacco after reading all of the positive reviews about it here. First off I have never tried a Dan tobacco that knocked my socks off. They have been ok, but not anything I would go out and purchase again. The best way I can describe this tobacco is bland. Not bad, just not rememberable Maybe I have been smoking too much Cairo and Haddos Delight. Also I find the price of Dan tobaccos to be a little pricey. In its defense, I do have to say that this is the first flake I have smoked that had no bite to it.
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