J. F. Germain & Son Germain's Brown Flake

I received an ounce of this from a friend. It had been rubbed out and jarred since 2015. Hydration was very good for smoking - maybe on the slightly dry side of things.

This has been a delightful smoke. The first try was in a Grabow Belvedere pot, and that was so good I checked availability. It seems to be chronically out of stock, which is a pity. I could see this being wildly popular if it could be found.

The taste was slightly sweet with a persistent nuttiness and spice from the Kentucky. I know it is not supposed to be topped, but the quality of the sweet is a little more than I would expect from the Virginia. Flavor was consistent, although it always seemed a little more full in the last half of the bowl with a hint of a tart and bitter edge. I found myself "playing" with this edge in my cadence.

Try this if you can find it.

My first reaction to this was "Yeah, it's nice, but I don't see what's so special about it, other than it's hard to find in the US." A little hint of dark fruit, pleasant dark tobaccos, and the flakes really peel off in tin-length strands making it an easy-to-pack smoke. It burns on the slow side.

Over the time I've been smoking it, however (several months), either the flavors have deepened even more, with more complexities creeping in, or I've learned to enjoy this more. I still find nothing that makes me go 'wow' or 'this is a great example of whatever.' This is a dark, satisfying, moderately complex mixture as it matures. If it is ever again available, I will certainly cellar it for a while to hope the beginning of that tin is as satisfying as the end of this one.

As a lover of medium strength red-brown Virginia flakes, I absolutely had to try this one!

It's quite typical of this Jersey brand: subdued, slightly unctuous, with a unique consistency. Seems very pressed and compact in the tin, but then it rubs out wonderfully (unlike some "leathery" Samuel Gawith flakes) and it is quite easy to light and maintain even if simply folded in the bowl.

But it's also a slightly unimpressive tobacco. Ok, it has all the typical Virginia flavours, but the (delicate) addition of Kentucky is probably responsible for an underlying musty and "dirty" taste that prevents it from being completely sweet, appetizing and juicy as I like my Virginia flakes to be.

Anyway, it's unoffensive, at times pleasant, and with a perfect body, heaviness and aggressiveness: very medium in all departments. The slight flavoring (cocoa?) does not translate into the smoking experience.

It's an OK flake, but it doesn't excite me. It must be said that I have never been a fan of Germain's style, though...

Germain’s Brown Flake is a “sleeper” that (apparently) has none the less been discovered, and the price for a tin of has gone out of bounds, IMO. Price aside, this is as natural a VA flake as I know of, muted and still deep in the tin, and rich and deep when smoked, likely owing to the smidgen of first quality KY, which also adds some "fat" and a little buttery tannin, along with a very slight "smoky" quality. Back to the prominent VAs, they seem to be mostly (top quality) brown and orange VA with various cures, and the lot is pressed and well-fermented before it’s sliced. The flakes are thin and supple, easy to fold, spindle and stuff, and it lights and burns well. There is “enough” smoke, and the aroma is very nice, indeed, for the VA lover who likes it "rich". This might be the only tobacco I have reviewed here upon which I have detected no casing or topping; not that it doesn’t have it, rather I just can’t smell or taste it. Strength is close to medium. Taste is closer to full. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste is all 1st Class VA, exceptional and long lasting.

Back to the price, this is the only thing keeping GBF out of my rotation. Though it is among the finest VA flakes/VA/Burs available, and I enjoyed my most recent tin immensely, I’m OK with Fribourg and Treyer’s Vintage as a substitute. I hasten to add, smoking F&TV back to back with GBF puts the former in its place. Both are worthy, but there IS a reason why GBF is hard to find, IF you can get hold of it.

This was a tough review to make. I mean, I love Germain tobaccos. And this offering is good, but it's never wowed me. There are some great grassy Virginia flavors here. But I think what makes it 3 stars rather than 4, is that I find it has a metallic-y finish that prevents me from feeling satisfied. It does funny things to my tongue. Perhaps this is a Ph difference compared to other tobaccos and I just need to give my mouth time to acclimate. I have a whole tin of it to find out!

Stonehaven light? Could well be. Being in the UK I have never smoked Stonehaven but I have smoked Germain's Rich Dark Flake, which I believe is almost a dead ringer.

Well, RDF didn't do it for me. Although I can see it is a good blend there was just too much Burley for my tastes. However, this Brown Flake is much more like it, in fact it is probably what I was hoping Rich Dark Flake would be.

Presentation is what I am coming to think of as typical Germain flake, i.e. stained brown wax paper and flakes so moist and compressed that peeling one off intact is impossible - it is kinda fun to try though, and then just crumble off any extra that you need. A bit of drying time is required, but not as much as with some flakes, e.g. the SG offerings.

In the pipe it is a hay-like VA with some subdued sweetness and a dirty, smokey bottom provided by the Kentucky. It ain't complex, but it is distinctive and tasty. It is more gentle on the palatte than a straight up VA flake and nicotine is ample.

Germain's Brown Flake has every aspect of a properly old school tobacco, and of high quality. It isn't mind blowing, but smoked slowly it is flavoursome and satisfying. I particularly enjoy it with a nice cup of tea on the side, and can see it being a sturdy companion when outdoors on an autumn evening.

I shall certainly cellar away another tin or two and would recommend this for everyone to try at least once. Whilst it is more VA forward, I think it would particularly appeal to those who are keen on traditional British Va/Kentucky flakes like Highland Sliced.

very oddly pleasing!! it is malty and sweet.. but there is also a strange hint of sea salt/brine.. almost like an islay scotch but subtley so.. i like it very satisfying

A superlative Virginia flake. The taste buds are satisfied with the malty, slightly sweet taste. It has a cigarlike, rounded quality when smoked. Well done J. F. Germain& Son.

Virginia lover

I've tried this once, a fill from a good friend's tin, so not a full review, more something to remind me what it's like because I think I'll get myself some of this good stuff. The aroma of the raw Flake is mostly like cigars! My friend keeps his baccy dry, it's thinly cut, so it lit with ease and burnt to nothing but ash in my Falcon pipe. The flavour isn't so much like a cigar, but it has a dry nutty taste, simple and enjoyable. Adequate nicotine.