Sour pipe bad, sour tobacco good?

[Johnny_Pipecleaner]

Does anyone care to help me reconcile why it is we can appreciate sour notes in our pipe tobacco, but must never allow a pipe to sour?

I get that a sour pipe is a bad thing, as it will impart a sour taste to everything smoked in it. At least with sour tobaccos one can choose not to smoke them when not in the mood.

I usually do not enjoy tobaccos with overly sour/tart qualities, but I see from reviews that many great tobaccos are described as having these qualities. This is interesting since we avoid souring our pipes. Any thoughts?

 

[anotherbob]

Does anyone care to help me reconcile why it is we can appreciate sour notes in our pipe tobacco, but must never allow a pipe to sour?

I get that a sour pipe is a bad thing, as it will impart a sour taste to everything smoked in it. At least with sour tobaccos one can choose not to smoke them when not in the mood.

I usually do not enjoy tobaccos with overly sour/tart qualities, but I see from reviews that many great tobaccos are described as having these qualities. This is interesting since we avoid souring our pipes. Any thoughts?

A sour pipe is horrible if you ever smoke one that's soured you'll never ask this question again. A soured pipe is more a spoiled pipe then sour. It's more like a pipe that now taste like a dog shit in the bowl.
Seriously if you have one sour it's not an enjoyable sour it's a this pipe is done if I can't fix this.
I am sure you can think of things food wise that sour when they spoil.

 

[Johnny_Pipecleaner]

A sour pipe is horrible if you ever smoke one that's soured you'll never ask this question again. A soured pipe is more a spoiled pipe then sour. It's more like a pipe that now taste like a dog shit in the bowl.
Seriously if you have one sour it's not an enjoyable sour it's a this pipe is done if I can't fix this.
I am sure you can think of things food wise that sour when they spoil.

Good point. There are (at least) two different kinds of sour. Sour milk vs a lemon, for example.

Maybe that's the answer right there, haha.

 

[anotherbob]

Good point. There are (at least) two different kinds of sour. Sour milk vs a lemon, for example.

Maybe that's the answer right there, haha.

Oh it is. I know because I soured one of my favorite pipes. It was literally heart breaking. Like the micro version of your good friend being really sick and knowing that there is a chance the doctors aren't going to be able to save them, but there is still hope they can. Certainly tiny little micro version but a grain of the same.
Had two pipes it happened to which are the reason I've become fastidious with cleaning my pipes. The first a thorough alcohol cleaning worked well more like three. The other pipe the damp coffee grounds cleaned it. Which is nice to because you can just use the grounds from your morning coffee. But I thought both times the pipe was going to be for display only.

 

[HeadMisfit]

A blend heavy in red virginia can seem like smoking vinegar. It's sour and harsh.

But when the pipe goes sour it's an almost debilitating first puff.

No one minds drinking beer with cabbage. But no one wants to drink a beer with cabbage juice in it

 

[anotherbob]

A blend heavy in red virginia can seem like smoking vinegar. It's sour and harsh.

But when the pipe goes sour it's an almost debilitating first puff.

No one minds drinking beer with cabbage. But no one wants to drink a beer with cabbage juice in it

never say never. I think I could convince some people to give it a go.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Well I would tell some of the underage kids not to claim they were smokers or beer drinkers if they couldn't handle a beer with a tablespoon of vinegar in it or soaked into them for cigs.

never say never. I think I could convince some people to give it a go.

 

[mortonbriar]

In reference to pipes, it means unclean. In reference to tobacco it is referring to a point on the flavour wheel, you could be talking about a fermented/vinegar type flavour or a citrus like tartness etc...

 

[HeadMisfit]

In reference to pipes, it means unclean. In reference to tobacco it is referring to a point on the flavour wheel, you could be talking about a fermented/vinegar type flavour or a citrus like tartness etc...

Or those Toscana blends where each has a different idea of wine added to it

 

[Johnny_Pipecleaner]

A blend heavy in red virginia can seem like smoking vinegar. It's sour and harsh.

Yep, and it is not my thing at all. First time I encountered it I thought maybe my pipe was ruined, or in need of a deep clean.

 

[Auxsender]

Sometimes I want to look at a desert landscape and sometimes I want to gaze at a beautiful lush forest and sometimes I want to see a canyon but I never, ever want to look at these sights through a dirty window.
The pipe is the window and the views are the tobaccos.

 

[mortonbriar]

Sometimes I want to look at a desert landscape and sometimes I want to gaze at a beautiful lush forest and sometimes I want to see a canyon but I never, ever want to look at these sights through a dirty window.
The pipe is the window and the views are the tobaccos.

I guess its a dick move to call out your metaphor, but wouldn't you just go outside to see an unspoiled view of your surroundings, regardless of how clean or dirty your windows were?

 

[didimauw]

This reminds me, I need to give my Pete a warm water flush tonight!

 

[Auxsender]

I guess its a dick move to call out your metaphor, but wouldn't you just go outside to see an unspoiled view of your surroundings, regardless of how clean or dirty your windows were?

Not a dick move.
You don’t get it and that’s ok.

If it makes more sense to you, replace windows with glasses.

My point is that I want to focus on the subject, not what’s between me and the subject.