Dan Tobacco Hamborger Veermaster

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.

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!

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

Veermaster is a mild straight Virginia flake. The Virginas are grassy with little-to-no fruit or citrus notes. The flake rubs out easily and there is no bite. All in all, Veermaster smokes pleasantly, but it is kind of bland. There are plenty of other straight Virginias to choose from with more body and/or complexity.

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This was my intro to citrus cased golden Va flake. Firmly in the Dunhill Flake and F&T Cut Va Plug genre.

I like Dan Va flakes. Their Va is drier, not C&D dry, but almost ready to smoke. The flavor is good, on the sunny hayloft side. Here, the citrus is a little too strong, and to me it tastes slightly off with an artificial sweetener twang. I'm hoping age mellows that citrus and am sitting on mine til it gets 10 years on it. 5 down, 5 to go.