Re: Meerschaum vs Briar

I've never heard anyone else mention this before but every time I smoke a
meer I get a weird taste towards the bottom of the bowl that I've come to
believe is just the meerschaum material itself heating up. At first I
thought it was just me being strange but then, when it happened in every
meer or meer lined pipe I've owned, I realized it really was just the flavor
of the meerschaum itself. This has happened to me on every meer regardless
of cost ($20 - $250 price range): (2) SMS, Altinok, Dr. Grabow (meer lined
briar), Barling, a Gourd Calabash, and a couple of no name cheapies.

I also never liked the typical mortise/tenon feature on most meers.
Although I must admit that IMP (see the link Steven provided) truely seems
to have solved this problem.

As to the flavor of the smoke in a meer vs in a briar ... frankly I noticed
no big improvement that so many folks talk about. I've tried VAs, Burleys,
Englishes, Aromatics, you name it ... they all taste the same in a meer as
they do in a briar except for that weird finishing flavor in the meer.

I've sold off all my meers save one. The Barling is still in my rotation -
well, sort of a specialty pipe being reserved for only aromatics now. Its a
pressed meer rather than a block meer as all the others were. And no, I
found no difference between pressed meers vs block meers either outside of
the cosmetic issues of course.

--
Rick Piatt
Smoking Pipes since 1997





"Larry Luffman" <ncguy6@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157029043.601729.212500@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm gonna tell you a secret..I've never smoked a Meer,so of course I
don't know how they smoke.I've been thinking that maybe I should get
one.Could some of you offer an opinion on them.If I smoked the same
blend in a Meer,and a Briar would I notice a difference in the
smoke?Are some brands in Meer better than others.Are the stems in Meers
fitted the same as the stems in Briar? What about price compared to
Briar? I wouldn't want one of those real fancy carved ones.Just a
fairly plain looking good quality pipe.Also where would be a good place
online to get one? As always thank you very much.

NCguy



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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Meerschaum vs Briar
    ... blend in a Meer,and a Briar would I notice a difference in the ... The meer will be a bit cooler and drier, ... briar, a meer gives almost a soapy flavor, especially if you heat the pipe ... Most use pretty crappy stems and a 2-piece connection ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Meer lined briar
    ... Do yourself a favour and chuck the pipe in the garbage. ... smoke meer get a meer pipe, if you want to smoke briar smoke a briar. ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Im done with Penzance
    ... testing it in various size bowls, briar & meer, briar from various ... I tried it in a meer and in a gourd ... and a tiny bit from a 2nd tin) to a friend that loves latakia ... ... high and last night it beat the heck out of me but good. ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Im done with Penzance
    ... I've been testing this tobacco for about a month and a half ... ... testing it in various size bowls, briar & meer, briar from various countries ... I tried it in a meer and in a gourd ... high and last night it beat the heck out of me but good. ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Im done with Penzance
    ... testing it in various size bowls, briar & meer, briar from various countries ... I tried it in a meer and in a gourd ... and a tiny bit from a 2nd tin) to a friend that loves latakia ... ... high and last night it beat the heck out of me but good. ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)