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

I read about this tobacco at pipeclub.gr (from “kodikos” and “yannis_k”), but I had never tried it. One more tin I bought at that “miracle” shop in Latvia, and I say “miracle” cause eventually it seems all the tobaccos were aged. A very delicious mixture, which has nothing to do with withered hay that most Virginia mixtures remind of. These days I slash the flakes into big cubes and I enjoy it even more. Once I open the tin, a pleasant scent of chocolate and maybe dry fruits appears. It is absolutely certain that the message sent to my brain is: “hurry, make yourself a Greek coffee, black and enjoy me”. It lights very easily and swiftly, probably because the tin I opened is aged. It has a full and strong taste that does not last until the end, but the various flavors interchange with each other pleasingly. At the end of the bowl only clear white ashes remain, a bit strange for a Virginia tobacco. Reading reviews at tobaccoreviews, I was impressed by the fact that the first evaluations, from years 2005-2006, were not good, while after 2008 they develop into praises. Do you think its synthesis was improved?? Who knows!!!

It is unexpected and a pleasant surprise when you try a tobacco and all you can think is...Where have you been all my life? I have had nothing like Germain's Brown Flake and I seriously doubt there is anything remotely close out there. I do have Sam Gawith Best Brown Flake and there is no comparison there. I partake in a fine cigar now and then and though I hate to make that comparison, it does evoke that experience. I find BF easy to pack, easy to light, easy to smoke with few relights and no bite at all. I love the taste and the room note. I doubt it would be appreciated by all like an aromatic, but it smells like a fine, natural tobacco to those that know that smell. I did notice a bit of nic, but pretty much medium strength if Irish Flake is Very Strong.

Now the bad news. Good luck finding any. It is unobtanium much like Esoterica favorites. Since it is so rare, I only smoke on occasion and have paid ridiculous money for a tin...but who cares if I enjoy it for a while.

Have not done a review in a while, but opened a tin of this I had on the shelf for a few months now. Well here we are. Germain's Brown Flake is a highly rated full Virginia flake and it is so because well it should be. The tin note has a very earthy like smell with a hint of molasses. Now the tobacco is a bit moist out of the tin so naturally I jarred this after some air time. This is listed as a flake but honestly it is a very broken flake and really ends up being like a shag/ribbon cut just from transferring the tobacco from the tin to a jar. So with that being said probably a go to flake because it is easy to break up as opposed to other flakes that require (the fun prep time). Anyways these were the tin and tobacco impressions. The smoke is a very flavorful full Virginia Kentucky's are named within the database but I don't notice them that much. This is a very sweet and pleasant VA very mild and just a blend one can smoke all day, and will not bite. I opened this recently and have been smoking it once a week sometimes more. Germain did a very nice job on this blend really keeps an enjoyable smoke all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I have smoked this in Rhodesians, Pokers and Cobs and it always is just a very good quality smoke. I would really recommend this one to beginners who are just getting in to VAs and really any pipe smoker out there because this is a prime example of a VA done right. I know I have been smoking this in the winter but with warmer temps and the fall I can see myself smoking more of this in the future. So overall another very well done blend and it is something that will have you coming back for more.

Between the virginia flakes I have been trying, this one steps forward with its unique taste. It gives you the feeling of an old quality wine. Once I opended the tin I got that strong smell of "good old times" and mold. I took all the contents out and aired it for like an half an hour then I tucked everything in. The mold smell had gone away leaving the stage for "good old times"

The next day I took a pipe full and rested it for couple of minutes before I filled up my pipe.

When I lighted it .... That was the moment I fell in love with this baccy. Very unique, tasty, satisfying easy to smoke. My favourite of all times.

Highly recommended for experienced smokers.

I am a big fan of flakes and this is one does not disappoint. I love the flakes and how they rub easily. I am genarally more partial to S.G. flakes but Germain's will soon become a staple in my smoke routine. Highly recommended!!

Update 06/11/2009

A year in the cellar did (predictable) wonders for this weed. It became much mellower, the taste intensified at the same time, and the beast is now but a humble pet. Currently the only tobacco I can (and do) smoke on a regular basis. It's indeed an outstanding offering, and a real keeper.

Original review 05/06/2008: When I opened the tin and inhaled the smell coming from it, I thought about Perfection. About the tin artwork of Samuel Gawith's Perfection, to be precise. Because the dog actually belongs here, on the beautiful small tin of Germain's Brown Flake which when opened smells of nothing less than an old Sammy, Maxie, or Chelsie shaking water off the back. Or Lassie saving a drowning child, if you'd prefer a more sentimental version. But it happened so that I bought this weed with serious intentions to smoke it and not just to stick my nose into the tin. So I took one flake off the bunch (this is only possible with a freshly open tin as mentioned by other reviewers, later on you'll have to make efforts to separate the flakes as they magically turn into a brick), rubbed it out and carefully loaded my 40 year old Comoy Guildhall. When the flame hit the weed, all doubts were gone. A strong, full tobacco taste was what was hiding beneath that smell, cigar-like sometimes, yes, reminded me of cheap El Guajiro Trompetas Natural I smoked in Spain - rough, musty, leathery, but with clearly pronounced woodsy undertones. A raw and honest tobacco. 'Sophisticated' comes from a language Brown Flake does not speak. It's an animal, and does not pretend to be anything else.

Brown Flake does not evolve much as the bowl progresses, it's as rough at the heel as it was on the charring light, but it incorporates such a powerful and peculiar taste that it's never a boring smoke. Not an everyday choice, but a delight from time to time is what I see Brown Flake can guarantee. A dedicated pipe would be appreciated by this beast. It's a domestic one, by the way, so not really inclined to bite.

Four stars, and five more tins ordered. Bow-wow!

I was not looking for what this blend offers, but I like it and have for a decade now. I have not found another flake like it. Reading elsewhere, some knowledgeable pipe smokers contend BF tastes like it contains Semois tobaccos grown in a region of Belgium in the Semois River Valley.

Semois is said to be an air-cured leaf, perhaps burley or Virginia, with cigar-like flavor, dry and cool on the tongue. That fits the way BF tastes when I smoke it. BF is cool and burns well, it also mixes nicely with a little Perique, Latakia and stoved Virginias. I suspect there is some other Virginia leaf in BF to round BF out yet in no way making this a sweet flake like one would find Full Virginia Flake or Germain's own Kingsbridge (Esoterica).

After the tin is opened, frayed flakes appear that, when rubbed, become almost fluff. The tobacco is quite damp, you could say wet, so I think it's best to rub it lightly and let it dry for about twenty minutes, which is plenty of time since it's made up of such fine threads. After that time and the pipe is lit, it burns perfectly, the smoke is creamy and a soft but tasty flavor appears, of a delicious Virginia, slightly sweet and at the same time somewhat dark, with some nuances similar to burley, although I must believe what Cakeanddottle writes. and Germain's statement that this “is a straight Va fermented in its own juices”.

In the first few pipes it seemed similar to Tilbury (I haven't tried Stonehaven yet), but after continuing to smoke it I've been able to appreciate that it has its own personality.

Of course, the quality of Germain's VAs is recognized. The only flaw they have is the difficulty to find them and this prevents me from devouring the tins I get...

A truly fabulous tobacco, another winner from Germain's. Really interesting hay-like, almost citrus flavour and then some deeper, darker fruitiness interspersed throughout the smoke. Cool smoking, no bite and gentle on the nicotine.