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

Germain?s Brown Flake started as a nice surprise, but by mid bowl it became a big disappointment and it ended the same way. When I opened the tin I noticed a nice flake, tightly pressed but rather moist, of a rich brown colour, very appetising. Tin aroma was inviting: spicy, beefy, with a faint resemblance to Astley?s 109, and to a lesser extent to some McClelland Vas. Rubbing out the flakes was quite simple and there was no problem packing them in. However, due to the high moisture content, I found the tobacco difficult to light and keep lit.

The first few puffs were excellent. I was greeted by a mellow but substantial flavour, very refined and tasty. It is that type of Va. processed in such a way it faintly (the stress is on faintly) evokes a Lea & Perrin?s sauce or Bovril undertone. When well done, such as in Astley?s 109 or Gallaher?s Rich Dark Honeydew, the tobacco?s overall structure and flavour are mouth watering and scrumptious. A rich, hearty smoke, enticing and uplifting. IMO, and unlike my esteemed fellow reviewers, I don't feel this is the case.

As I said, first few puffs were very good and tasty. Hmmm, I thought this could be a very good morning to mid day smoke! But as I progressed slowly down the bowl, the flavour gradually seemed to fade away, until it virtually dissipated into?hot air! I let the pipe cool down, waited for some time, allowing for some DGT, but to no avail. Some of the original flavour did reappear towards the end of the bowl, but the whole experience, IMO, was frustrating enough not to give it another try. Maybe if someone out there is just picking up a pipe, this tobacco may serve as a nice introduction to straight, non sweetened Vas. In my case, I am afraid it just didn?t work.

Another great flake by Germain. This one is a bit difficult to strip whole flakes out, but it doesn't matter much. The shaggy flakes still burn cool. I didn't detect bite. But it is always best to smoke these slowly.

Heavier than the traditional flakes, like F&T cut viginia cut plug or Old Gowie, and plenty of tobacco is stuffed in the 2 oz. tin. I got 21 full smokes in a medium large Savinelli auto., whereas F&T only gave me 13 or so in a medium Vesz pipe. I have another tin of it just waiting in the cellar. The first tin was good without any more aging.

This is virginia all right, as the slight tangy sweetness is present, but there is something else that makes it tastier, richer, cooler and heavier. I don't think it is turkish note, but it is likely a combination of added burley and maybe some air cured or cigar leaf. It definitly has a nutty taste. My spouse said it doesn't smell like pipe tobacco. Strange comment, as it is not the least bit aromatic to me.

This is not quite as full as some other brown flakes, like G&H, but it is full and satisfying enough to me. Dry smoking and steady burning; a no nonsense real tobacco taste.

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.

Nice, yet very ordinary flake from Germain's.

The little brother of Rich Dark Flake, without the dark and without the rich. There isn't much left after you take these away.

You end up with a very generic looking flake which has virtually no smell, no taste and even less character. With so many virginia flakes on the market, including the plethora of German blends this doesn't stand out.

Admittedly I had a 20g semi-sample from the tobacconist not the tin, but this could have been any of a dozen of flakes I could name.

It's not a bad flake by any means, just average. Very disappointing.

This blend tastes a great deal like Gawith Best Brown Flake, so if you like it you’ll enjoy this. It’s a bit smoother and has a slightly less grassy note to it. It doesn’t have a great deal of flavor, but I suspect it’s not supposed to. It’s just a decent, enjoyable smoke and that’s about the extent of it.

This is good tobacco, but I will not miss, and will not buy again. Germains made legendary rich dark flake and rest of blends it's just good... IMO. Brown flakes smokes dry,cool,no tongue bite,nice depth of flavor, but ordinary. Worth to try it and go to search for other blends.

Upon opening the rather small (50g) oblong tin I was presented with two rows of neatly stacked narrow flakes of a dark mahogany brown. Tin note was a rather vague affair with perhaps a little leather and old 'mustiness', nothing really sprung out at me.

Tipped out onto a tray those skinny flakes rubbed out very well indeed, not quite your Dunhill ribbon cut but not far off. Sam Gawith, please take note! Moisture content was a tad more than I like so the obligatory couple of hours drying time was allowed afore re-tinning in a larger tin (no way would the rubbed out flakes fit in the original tin). Of course a bowl was packed first.

The tobacco took to the flame rather well after the initial char light & tamp. I was immediately struck by the mildness of the smoke, by all accounts on Tobaccoreviews this was supposed to be a medium/strong affair. The flavours seemed to me to be very subdued, rather like the tin note. I got a little molasses occasionally and a mildly sweet taste of something akin to burnt biscuit. No tongue bite but if tugged hard it did tend to burn rather hot. A fair clump of soggy dottle remained at the end of the smoke.

In summary this was a rather pleasant smoke despite not having too much flavour, one perhaps for a quiet evening in. Would I revisit this blend? Quite possibly, but I think I might leave it a while afore I do.

Simple things please simple minds. Well this tobacco pleased me and it is simple. Its a great little package to carry around as the tin is pocket sized. You have the functional wax tin liner and easy to use thin cut tobacco that burns straight from the off. The moisture content is such that it will remain to preserve the tobacco till the last smokes. So as a product it works and easily.

The taste is also simple and hits the spot from the off, once lit it stays lit and the nic hit is fair as well. A simple brown vg with dirty bass from the Kentucky. I would guess it has a single light natural topping of some kind but that's my guess not knowledge, It seems to have a special note that follows from start to end of smoking.

This is not an every day smoke for me but one to have around for when I fancy it and that day will come around every week or so I'm sure.