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

This is a great flake. My favorite Virginia flake in this category is Samuel Gawith's Best Brown Flake, however, being difficult to find, Germain's is a suitable replacement. (Unfortunately Germain's Brown Flake is difficult to find as well.) Not as moist as Sam Gawith's flakes, GBF burns quite nicely with just a little dry time. Sweet, spicy, with some cigarish qualities, this is a delicious tobacco to go with my evening coffee.

Soli Deo gloria.

This is an excellent unobtrusive tobacco. It comes in a small tin that is perfect to fit in your pocket. This is an unflavored tobacco that smokes well. I did not have to dry it out at all. I rubbed out 2 flakes out and filled my pipe. It burned dry and and cool. I did not need to relight my pipe. It burned very well. There was a mild malt/salty flavour. It leaves a very light grey ash. This is a good uncomplicated smoke. I highly recommend it.

DK nailed it below when saying:

"The light sweetness did much to counterbalance the dark notes and added just the right touch to keep this one from being all bass - nice slight additional treble to the ensemble"

Someone called this "Stonehaven Light". I can get behind that. Very similar experience for me. The same "feel" as Stonehaven. A creaminess. Same ballpark in terms of flavor. But lighter. Not lighter in strength but lighter as in brighter in taste. The flue cured gives it that brighter high note DK pointed out.

I have been smoking this now for several months and it has become a centerpiece in my rotation of 5-6 blends and frequent wild cards.

If you like Stonehaven, some of the Dark and Brown flakes from the Gawiths or even something like good old Prince Albert, I'd highly recommend you give this one a shot. A premium flake that is readily available at a reasonable cost.

I received this as a gift and was a little apprehensive about smoking a flake. I had switched from cigars to pipes about a year ago, and have been smoking mostly house blends from Peretti and more recently 4noggins. After smoking this now three or four times in a churchwarden, I find it to be one of my treat smokes, usually when I want to relax and read a bit. It seems to have a nice, natural flavor that burns easily without bite or harshness and requires few re-lights. Compared to the burleys and english blends I have smoked, this feels like a more natural way to enjoy smoking.

Tin aroma: Sweet aromatic Flue Cured Virginia and nothing else. Color: Chocolate brown with flecks of gold and a few sugar crystals.

Wet, well-packed flakes separate easily and rub out instantly. After a twenty minute dry, packing a pipe loosely is best. A couple of charring lights to build a good head of ash and then settle in for a long, cool, bight free, and flavorful smoke of the highest quality possible. J. F. Germain and Son?s Brown Flake, is another wonderful blend by this exceptional house. Buy some.

This is a fine choice. I found it by accident in a basket of unsold tobacco at a ridiculously low price at my pipe shop I frequent. I was suprised by a very sweet, musty- but not really cigar like (as others say) I find it much smoother and pleasant than any cigar I have had. I think people unfamiliar with cigars are mislead by the musty nature. Earthy, sweetness, very natural, I am not sure if there is any casing at all.

An interesting flavor to this Virgina brown flake. Has a nice musty aspect to the smoke with a hint of something I can't quite describe. It's not soap or perfume but an unusual by-product of processing. I like the flavor but it, unfortunately dissapears after about 1/4 bowl. The rest of the smoke is rather plain but pleasant. A good no-nonsense smoke.

Finally a smoke to make me pull my fingers (thumbs) out and say something.

Having only & exclusively smoked J.F. germains since showing an interest in pipe smoke. I’ve got to say, next to plumb cake. This is the best. Being English, and living in England. The English, or Lakeland blends, are a bit same-y same-y.

This however smokes like tobacco, is like tobacco & is for anyone who doesn’t like pre-tense.

Cut like Picasso was on the slicer, you’d mistake it for bresaola. Might chew a piece to see.

Needs no babysitting, gentle rub and stuff. Not dry…hey what do you think?