Joe's Wicked Good Jerky - Joemama's Hot

December 13, 2015, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Sweet Teriyaki

≪ Previous: Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Sweet & Spicy

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Joe's Wicked Good Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Joe's Wicked Good Jerky Corporation, based out of Redding, CA. It was started by the husband and wife duo of Joe Nixt and Traci Nixt, who launched the brand in October 2014.

At the time, Joe had been making his own jerky for over 20 years. He's shared it with friends and co-workers from his contracting business. When Traci lost her secretarial position, the couple decided to make a go at running a jerky company.

This "Joemama's Hot" is described by the company as being made with "fresh jalapenos", and that it's "not too hot, but the sting sneaks up on you".

Ingredients

Beef, Marinade (soy sauce, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, mirin, water, dehydrated garlic, spice, modified corn starch, sunflower oil), Marinade (soy sauce, rehydrated onions, garlic, caramel, vinegar, apple juice concentrate, carrots, cabbage, parsley, turnips, parsnips, natural flavors, spices, citric acid, malic acid), jalapeno, cayenne.

Review

The first flavors I pick up on the palate is a saltiness with a noticeable sweet. I can pick up a light soy sauce along with a light garlic and onion. The chewing brings on a touch more definition of soy sauce along with a subtle jalapeno flavor. There's only a wee bit of heat in the background.

For being named, "Joemama's Hot" and described as having a sting that sneaks up on you, I'm still waiting for the sting. There's a light bit of heat on the back of my tongue that I would rate as "mild medium" on my personal heat scale (level 2 out of 5). In my opinion, it's too weak for something labeled, "Hot". Even though many brands tend to water down their hottest jerky to appeal to a wider customer base, it seems to me that spicy food lovers would find this disappointing, while tame-tongue snackers would never buy something labeled "hot" anyway.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile of this jerky is that of soy sauce boosted with garlic and onion, and dashed with a light sweet. The jalapeno flavor is subtle, but is there if you look for it, while the heat feels too weak for spicy food addicts, but probably OK for those who don't normally eat spicy foods. The natural meat flavor is hardly noticeable.

The meat consistency seems comparable to the large, national brands, but perhaps a little more meaty in texture. I see a few spots of fat here and there, and I can even taste the flavor of fat in the chewing too. It's mostly a dry jerky, and chews more meaty and somewhat steak-like than the company's other varieties.

Verdict

I'm not really sure what demographic of meat snackers this jerky was intended for, because the level of heat is too light for spicy food lovers.

This "Joemama's Hot" from Joe's Wicked Beef Jerky is not actually hot at all. Even though the company admits that this is, "not too hot", it does however claim that the "sting sneaks up on you". Yet, for a spicy food lover like myself, there was no sting to be found even after eating through the entire package. Otherwise on its own merits, this jerky has a snackable flavor, though not as good as the company's other varieties, and in fact seemed somewhat average compared to other national brands of jerky. If anything, it has a good chewing texture and meat consistency.

Rating: Average

Buy this online:

• http://www.joeswickedgoodjerky.com/

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Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Sweet Teriyaki

December 18, 2015, 5:02 am

≫ Next: Naked Cow Jerky - Smoke

≪ Previous: Joe's Wicked Good Jerky - Joemama's Hot

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Jedidiah's Jerky is a brand that we reviewed before (read the reviews here). Some time ago, they revamped their line of jerky with new recipes and new branding, and moved their headquarters to Laughlin, NV to Beatty, NV. Jedidiah's Jerky also has since opened up a chain of beef jerky stores called, "Jed's Jerky" throughout Nevada and California.

This new "Beef Brisket" line replaced the company's old "Private Reserve" line, which was also beef brisket. This new recipe has much less sodium than the previous recipe. You can read the previous review of that Private Reserve Teriyaki here.

This "Sweet Teriyaki" jerky is described by the company as being slowly marinated in their special Teriyaki sauce, and claims it to be a, "flavor explosion in your mouth!"

Ingredients

Beef brisket, gluten free reduced sodium tamari soy sauce, brown sugar, pineapple juice concentrate, granulated garlic, black pepper, ginger.

Review

The first flavor I pick up on the tongue is a noticeable sweet with hints of ginger. The chewing brings on teriyaki style flavor marked by a light soy sauce and a lightly noticeable pineapple.

For being marketed as, "Sweet Teriyaki", it seems to hold up. It has a fair amount of sweetness to this, but not over-the-top, and most of that sweet comes on initially. The teriyaki part is not the classic Japanese-style, but it definitely has a teriyaki-esque flavor. This has the classic sweet, ginger, and soy sauce components, but its tangy component is marked by a lightly fruity pineapple instead of the fermented rice wine. The result is a teriyaki flavor that feels more light than traditional teriyaki, and slightly more fruity.

Overall, the primary taste profile is that of a light teriyaki sauce, noticeably sweet but not heavy, a somewhat low saltiness, with faint touches of ginger and pineapple. It's quite mild in spice.

The meat consistency is excellent for beef brisket jerky. It's quite soft and tender, and very meaty. There's only light stringiness found. The chewing texture feels like real meat, just quite soft and tender. Some strips are very soft and tend to chew mushy, but there are some pieces more dry and chewy.

Verdict

This Sweet Teriyaki Beef Brisket Jerky from Jedidiah's Jerky offers up a unique teriyaki flavor that departs from the traditional Japanese-style by using pineapple juice instead of fermented rice wine to create something a little less tangy, but a little more fruity. Overall, this jerky tastes light, and not quite the, "flavor explosion in your mouth" the company had claimed. Otherwise, the soft, tender chew and the meaty texture is excellent for brisket jerky. In fact, for those who prefer a more mild jerky flavor, this makes a great choice.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.jedsjerky.com

Naked Cow Jerky - Smoke

January 1, 2016, 4:16 am

≫ Next: Ria's RoadKill Jerky - Original

≪ Previous: Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Sweet Teriyaki

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Naked Cow Jerky is a new brand that launched in October 2015. It's a brand of Appalachian Jerky Company.

Naked Cow Jerky was launched to specifically to cater to a growing audience seeking minimally processed jerky, made with natural ingredients. Their jerky offerings are made with 100% grass fed beef, sea salt, and spiced. They use no artificial preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, MSG or soy. They claim to be "paleo-friendly", gluten-free, and made in a USDA inspected facility. They are currently selling in Boston, MA area at various retail locations and Cross-Fit gyms. It's also available online.

This "Smoke" variety is based on the "Primal Smoke" variety from Appalachian Jerky Company, and then modified for the specific audience that Naked Cow Jerky is targeted to.

Ingredients

Grass-fed beef, sea salt, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, beet powder, celery powder.

Review

The first flavors to hit my palate are light salt and a touch of garlic. There's a light, but noticeable smokiness. The chewing brings on more saltiness, but adds a little bit of black pepper. There's a light natural meat flavor too.

For being marketed as "Smoke", it seems to hold up. It's only a light smoky flavor, just enough to give you what it markets. There's also a light smoky aroma when opening the bag.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile of this jerky is salt, with a touch of garlic and black pepper, and a light smokiness. The level of saltiness seems to straddle the line between moderate to high. The natural meat flavors show through enough, and actually resemble something like a grilled steak with a dash of seasoning salt. The natural meat flavor has a bit of fatty character, as if made from marbleized meat.

The meat consistency seems excellent. It's dry, but feels soft and tender. It has a meaty chew, and once chewed down soft, feels just like a piece of steak. I can see some small bits of fat on these pieces, but otherwise there's little to no stringiness, and nothing unchewable.

Verdict

This Smoke variety from Naked Cow Jerky offers up a simple flavor that seems to compliment this jerky's marbleized, natural meat flavor. I found the smoke flavor to be light, while the saltiness to be somewhat high. But after eating several pieces, I decided that the real star of this show is the meat consistency and natural meat flavor. This really does have a "natural" taste and chew, like you're eating something that came "farm to package". The soft, tender chew, combined with the steak-like texture, really helps sell this character. Otherwise, the flavor itself is unremarkable, and nothing bold or creative. Rather, it's the simplicity, natural ingredients, and excellent meat consistency that wins.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

• http://nakedcowjerky.com/

Ria's RoadKill Jerky - Original

January 2, 2016, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Astro Fresh Jerky - Astro Cowboy Peppered

≪ Previous: Naked Cow Jerky - Smoke

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Ria's RoadKill Jerky is run by Eden Van, based out of Long Beach, CA, having launched in January 2011.

Eden got started in making jerky after receiving compliments on his barbecue recipes. He uses USDA Choice top round from his local meat market. All jerky is dehydrated in a smoker. He currently sells through Facebook and eBay while waiting for his new website to finish.

This Original beef jerky is said to be his "plain" jerky for non-spicy eaters, smoked over hickory wood.

Ingredients

Beef, water, cane sugar, soy sauce, garlic, onion, black pepper, lemon juice, monosodium glutamate.

Taste

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is significant sweetness with a well-defined hickory smoke flavor. Some of the seasonings are detected.

The chewing brings in a significant natural meat flavor with more of the sweetness. The lemon juice produces a faint tanginess.

For being marketed as a mild jerky with a hickory smoke flavor, it really holds up well. It's quite mild, with no discernable spiciness or heat. Meanwhile, the hickory smoke flavor comes through really well and is hard to not notice.

Otherwise, the flavor that seems to define this jerky is the hickory smoke, having a real-wood smoke flavor. The sweetness is also significant as is the natural meat flavors. The seasonings are light, just enough to color the meat and give it some savory quality.

The ingredients combine extremely well in this, putting all the focus on the great taste of beef with the wonderful flavor of real wood smoke. The sweetness draws you into the chewing while the lighter seasonings gives these chunks of meat just enough savory body to create a well-rounded taste experience.

This stuff tastes like eating chunks of tender, marinated, beef right off the smoker.

Meat Consistency

These are slices of whole meat, cut into thick slabs of small to medium sizes, with each slab big enough for one or two bites.

This a semi-moist jerky with a dry surface feel, maybe a faint bit of stickiness. Chewing is easy, while tearing off a bite is easy as well.

The chewing starts out feeling tender with a light bit of rubber character. After several chews, it breaks down into a meaty feel, with still rubbery chewing. But once chewed down to a soft mass, it feel like just like a steak cooked medium-rare.

I see tiny flecks and streaks of fat on some pieces, perhaps enough to add a light marbleized flavor. Otherwise, I see no gristle or tendon. I don't encounter much stringiness and don't really find any unchewable tissues.

As for clean eating, it's mostly clean with just a fine film of stickiness on my finger, but still dry enough to type on my keyboard.

Snack Value

Ria's RoadKill Jerky sells this Original variety at a price of $7.99 for a 4oz package. You can buy four of their 8oz packages at a discounted price of $53.99. Shipping is free. That works out to a price of $1.69 per ounce.

For general jerky snacking purposes, at the $1.69 per ounce price, this is an excellent value. Compared to other brands of jerky sold in stores, this has far better flavor, much better meat consistency, and much better chewing texture. You're basically paying bargain-bin prices for top-quality jerky.

Rating

I'm giving this a best rating.

This Original beef jerky from Ria's RoadKill Jerky offers an amazing natural meat flavor with a well-pronounced real hickory smoke flavor. It starts with a significant amount of sweet to draw you in, and then brings on the goodness of real-wood smoke before it finally nails you with an amazing natural beef flavor. It tastes just like chunks of tender, smoked beef straight from the smoker.

The seasonings are light, but just enough to create a savory chew without getting in the way of the honest-to-goodness simplicity of real wood smoked beef.

The meat consistency is excellent, being of mostly all meat with small streaks of fat to create a more marbleized flavor. The chewing feels just like real pieces of steak. This is a one-two combination of excellent smoked beef flavor with excellent tender chewing.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

• https://www.etsy.com/shop/RiasRoadKillJerky

Astro Fresh Jerky - Astro Cowboy Peppered

January 3, 2016, 2:23 am

≫ Next: Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Original

≪ Previous: Ria's RoadKill Jerky - Original

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Astro Fresh Jerky is a brand owned by HJP Trading, LLC based out of Los Angeles, CA. It was started by Roy Park in early 2015 who found an old family recipe that dated back to the late 1980s.

Since then, Roy has been selling his jerky in local markets and retailers in California. Recently they started a website and are now taking online orders.

Astro Fresh Jerky currently lists 10 varieties of beef jerky and 1 variety of chicken jerky.

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, water, black pepper, granulated garlic, liquid smoke, vinegar, onion powder, sodium nitrite.

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate are a saltiness, with a little bit of garlic, and a noticeable soy sauce. The chewing brings on a more defined soy sauce flavor with a bit more salt and garlic. The black pepper is noticeable. There's also a touch of vinegar tanginess in the background.

For being marketed as a black peppered jerky, it seems to hold up well. I do taste a recognizable black pepper flavor in the background, but it doesn't overpower the soy sauce and garlic. It seems to work in tandem to create a trio of flavors. Yet, there's still enough black pepper to generate a spicy bite. On my personal heat scale, I'd rate this as "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of soy sauce, with a combination of garlic and black pepper seasoning. Add a little bit of vinegar tanginess, and that seems to round out the flavor.

The meat consistency seems good. I find some streaks of fat on some pieces, which adds a light fatty flavor and softens the chewing a bit. Other pieces are more lean and chewy, while some become more tough. I find an average amount of stringiness, considering the size and thickness of these pieces. Compared to the company's "Original" variety that we reviewed last month, this Astro Cowboy Peppered feels more meaty, and a lot less gummy, perhaps due to the absence of sugar. The chewing texture feels quite meaty, and in some cases, steak-like.

Verdict

This Astro Cowboy Peppered from Astro Fresh Jerky manages to offer up a noticeable black pepper flavor and spice without going over-the-top. It tends to keep a good balance between the soy sauce marinade and the garlic seasoning. I also liked faint touch of vinegar tanginess to liven up the chewing. But in comparison to the many other brands of peppered jerky I've reviewed, there's nothing creative or unique about this flavor. The combination of soy sauce, black pepper, and garlic is very common. The meat consistency seems good in that these are very meaty pieces, and that they have a meaty, somewhat steak-like texture. But I also found this jerky a bit dry and chewy, and in some cases, tough.

Overall, it's still very snackable, and actually quite good considering the meaty, steak-like chewing. If anything, this Astro Cowboy Peppered has an old fashioned flavor and chew, comparable to what you might find at a country store up in the mountains.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.astrofreshjerky.com/

Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Original

January 4, 2016, 4:31 pm

≫ Next: Kingmade Jerky - Classic Recipe

≪ Previous: Astro Fresh Jerky - Astro Cowboy Peppered

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Chudabeef Jerky Strips is a brand launched by Kevin Casey based out of Long Beach, CA. The brand has been in business since 2014, and at the beginning of 2015 had just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Kevin is an active hiker and had been making his own jerky for his trips through the wilderness. His friends loved it so much, they offered to pay him for some. That got him interested in starting his own jerky business.

This Original is described the company as, "...crisp, smoky, peppery goodness", along with, "...a perfect blend of flavors that satisfies the taste buds of every jerky lover."

Ingredients

Beef, tamari soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, natural hickory smoke flavor, black pepper, onion powder, natural flavor

Review

The first thing I taste on the palate is a light sweet, followed by a light saucy flavor, with a faint onion. The chewing brings in a bit more sweet, particularly the honey flavor, which seems to add a little tang. There's also a bit more onion definition, and a noticeable black pepper that builds in the background.

For being described as "crisp, smoky, and peppery", it certainly delivers the peppery part. The smokiness has a light effect. As for the "crisp", all I can say is that the onion seems to cut through the other flavors and present itself well.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of onion. Think of something along the lines of french onion soup as a base marinade, but throw in a little bit honey for sweetness, and a bit of black pepper for spice.

The meat consistency seem pretty good. I find mostly all meat with no visible signs of fat, though I experienced some stringiness. It's quite soft to chew, more so than you might expect. It has a very meaty chewing texture, though a little bit rubbery.

Verdict

This Original from Chudabeef Jerky Strips manages to pack in some great flavor, marked by an onion seasoning, but bolstered with black pepper and tempered with honey. It actually ends up offering a little of everything: sweet, salty, savory, and spicy. But it's also pretty good chew too, being somewhat soft, tender, and meaty. I liked the bit of tanginess, and I also liked the heavier onion instead of the tried-and-true garlic that most brands rely on. It tends to still have a somewhat rubbery texture, and I don't get much natural meat flavor. But the flavors that it does offer are pretty good and creative.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.chudabeef.com/

Kingmade Jerky - Classic Recipe

January 5, 2016, 11:23 am

≫ Next: Lucky Rock Beef Jerky

≪ Previous: Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Original

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Kingmade Jerky is a brand that hit the market in 2013, launched by Jeff King, and based out of McKinney, TX. King had been working as a golf caddie for many years, with a hobby in making homemade jerky.

After bringing some batches of his jerky to the golf course, his fellow golfers liked it a lot, and kept asking him for more. It was only a few years later that big names like Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, Davis Love III, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel, among others, began buying jerky from him. Today, King has gone full corporate and now sells jerky to major retail outlets across the country.

This "Classic Recipe" is described as being made from flank steak, and seasoned with steakhouse spices, brown sugar, and is touted as the lowest sodium beef jerky on the market.

Ingredients

Beef, water, soy sauce, natural smoke flavoring, brown sugar, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a smokiness, along with a beefy, fatty meat flavor. Soon, I can pick up a light salt, and a light garlic. The chewing brings on more of the fatty, natural meat flavors, but also touches of sweet and black pepper.

For being described as seasoned with "steakhouse spices", and as being the lowest sodium beef jerky on the market, it seems up to hold up. It certainly does have a seasoning reminiscent of steakhouse seasoning, though it's light. It's not the bold, spicy, seasonings where the black pepper, garlic, coriander, pop out at you. It's instead more subtle. It's also light on the salt, it's just barely there.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile of this jerky is the natural meat flavors. It's more of a fatty, or marbleized, meat flavor. The natural smoke flavoring is light but noticeable, and then the seasonings of salt, garlic, and black pepper are a bit more light.

The meat consistency is very good. Small bits of fat are easily seen on these pieces, but no stringiness to speak of. The small slices are convenient in not having to rip apart, and the handling feels clean. There are however, a lot of tiny pieces that you'll have to pour out of the bag to get to. Otherwise, the chewing is dry, but still easy to chew through. The texture is very meaty, and by the time it chews down soft, it feels like chewing real piece of steak, cooked well done.

Verdict

This Classic Recipe from Kingmade Jerky dishes out a very natural taste in that it's focused on the natural meat flavors, with some noticeable marbleized essence. The seasonings are light enough to add a little bit of steakhouse style seasonings, but yet allow the great taste of beef to remain focused. Overall, it tastes simple yet natural, ordinary yet addicting. The meat consistency and chewing texture is likewise, feeling like real meat, not gummy, not sticky, not hard. It's just somewhat dry. But otherwise, I was impressed for its natural character, the focus on the meat flavors, the marblelized taste, and the low saltiness.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

• http://kingmadejerky.com/

Lucky Rock Beef Jerky

January 6, 2016, 9:28 am

≫ Next: Poor-Man's Jerky - Kickory

≪ Previous: Kingmade Jerky - Classic Recipe

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Lucky Rock Beef Jerky is a brand of beef jerky owned by Mark Zimmerman, based out of Webster Groves, MO.

There's little product literature available. The company's website is sparse with information. I found that it's selling on Amazon.com. The jerky packaging is stamped, "National Champion", and the Amazon.com store site says, "...won a national beef jerky contest", and, "hand made the old fashioned way for over 2 decades".

The Amazon.com store site goes on to say that it's made from USDA beef and combined with a 5 sauce blend, seasoned to perfection, with no preservatives. It also says is contains no MSG, however the package actually shows MSG in the ingredients list.

Ingredients

Hgh fructose corn syrup, tomato puree, vinegar, molasses, modified food starch, salt, hickory smoke flavor, onion powder, sodium benzoate, cayenne pepper, vegetable oil, black pepper, garlic powder, citric acid, raisin paste, orange puree, caramel coloring, xantham gum, potassium sorbate, dextrose, MSG, sugar, potassium citrate, natural flavoring, spices, artificial color, polysorbate 80, malic acid, water, wheat, soybeans

Review

The first flavors I pick up on my tongue is salt, followed by a garlic and onion, sauciness. The chewing brings on more of the same flavor. As the chewing goes on, the black pepper become more defined, along with a faint soy sauce. There's also the flavor of coriander going on in the background. I can also pick up the natural meat flavor, but it's an aged flavor, and it stays in the background.

These pieces have a lot of seasoning bits stuck to them, which gives off bursts of individual flavors. Collectively, they create something similar to a Montreal Steak Seasoning.

The primary taste profile is that of steak seasoning, with an emphasis on salt, but also lighter levels of garlic, onion, and black pepper. There's also a saucy flavor, perhaps comparable to beef stock, or aus jus. Finally, there are shades of coriander and soy sauce in the background, along with an aged, natural meat flavor.

The meat consistency are thinly sliced slabs in small sizes, with each piece being the right size for a single bite. There's a lot of marbleing noticeable, but I can't really taste any of it. These are dry pieces, with a fair amount of plastic-like flexibility. They can be chewy, and a little tough at first bite, but soften up after a several seconds. Once chewed down, it has a meaty character, but doesn't quite become like steak.

Verdict

Lucky Rock Beef Jerky offers bursts of steak seasoning flavors over thinly sliced pieces of marbleized beef. However, the bursts of steak seasonings is about all that this jerky offers. The marinade inside the meat is difficult to taste due to heavy outer seasonings. The natural meat flavor remains light, and is also overwhelmed by the seasonings. The meat consistency and chewing texture seems chewy, sometimes tough, and not at all like real steak. Hence, all I'm left with is the stronger steak seasoning bits, which is weighted too heavily on salt.

On it's own merits, this jerky does have a homemade flavor and feel. The steak seasonings are still very savory and tasty on these thin pieces of beef, and I do find myself reaching for more. I think if the meat easier to chew, perhaps sliced more thin, or dehydrated more crisp, comparable to Fatman's Jerky, or Mike's Jerky, and less salty, this would be more enjoyable.

Rating: Average

Buy this online:

• http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Rock-Beef-Jerky/dp/B019BQV6VK/
• http://www.luckyrockbeefjerky.com/

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Poor-Man's Jerky - Kickory

January 7, 2016, 3:59 am

≫ Next: Naked Cow Jerky - Honey

≪ Previous: Lucky Rock Beef Jerky

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Poor-Man's Jerky is owned by Mike Stringfield, based out of Wellsville, KS. A landscaper by day, and jerky chef at all other times.

The name, "Poor-Man's Jerky" has often been used globally to refer to left-over scraps at the butcher shop that's been ground into jerky. And interestingly, this particular brand is also a ground beef product. But coincidentally, Poor-Man's Jerky doesn't have its own website; all sales comes from local street festivals and county fairs, as well as through Facebook.

Little information is provided about Poor-Man's Jerky. This "Kickory" appears to be a combination of hickory smoke and habanero peppers.

Ingredients

Beef eye round ground, worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, chili powder, paprika. onion powder, garlic powder, spices, hickory smoke, habanero

Review

The first flavors I pick up on the tongue is a saltiness, with a touch of sweet, followed by a garlic and onion seasoning. There's also a light spicy heat building. The chewing brings on a habanero chile pepper flavor, while the heat builds up some more.

For being named, "Kickory", it seems to hold up. The hickory smoke is noticeable if you look for it, but otherwise there are so many other flavors competing for attention that it gets overshadowed. The "kick" part of the name is dead on. The heat in this will warm you up. I'd rate it as "medium hot" on my personal heat scale (level 4 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a garlic and onion seasoning, paired with a habanero chile flavor. It's moderately salty, with graces of sweet and hickory smoke.

The meat consistency is chopped and formed, and extruded into thin strips. Chewing is relatively easy, with a soft rubbery flexibility, and lightly oily to touch. The texture starts out feeling rubbery and plastic-like, but easily chews down into something meaty, more like finely gound beef.

Verdict

This Kickory variety from Poor-Man's Jerky manages to generate a good deal of snackbility for chile pepper fans through a well defined habanero flavor and a decent level of heat. But it also maintains that snackability through a savory blend of seasonings and marinades. Even though many jerky aficionados tend to look past chopped and formed brands, this batch from Poor-Man's Jerky seems to win points for its easy chewing and great flavor. I tend to find the saltiness a little high, but perhaps it feels that way from the spicy heat. I would also like to get more hickory smoke, considering that's what this jerky is named for.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• https://www.facebook.com/poormans.jerky

Naked Cow Jerky - Honey

January 8, 2016, 5:05 am

≫ Next: Astro Fresh Jerky - Whiskey BBQ

≪ Previous: Poor-Man's Jerky - Kickory

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Naked Cow Jerky is a new brand that launched in October 2015. It's a brand of Appalachian Jerky Company.

Naked Cow Jerky was launched to specifically to cater to a growing audience seeking minimally processed jerky, made with natural ingredients. Their jerky offerings are made with 100% grass fed beef, sea salt, and spiced. They use no artificial preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, MSG or soy. They claim to be "paleo-friendly", gluten-free, and made in a USDA inspected facility. They are currently selling in Boston, MA area at various retail locations and Cross-Fit gyms. It's also available online.

This "Honey" variety is based on the "Smoke" variety we reviewed last week, but graced with a dousing of honey. The company claims it, "sweetens the flavor and compliments the natural spice of the jerky".

Ingredients

Grass-fed beef, honey, sea salt, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, beet powder, celery powder.

Review

The first flavors to hit my palate are a saltiness and a touch of garlic. The chewing brings on a stronger saltiness, along with some black pepper. The natural meat flavors are well noticeable in this.

For being marketed as, "Honey", and described as "sweetening the flavor", it doesn't quite hold up. The unique flavor of honey is difficult to identify in this. There is a very faint honey flavor that I can pick up, but it's too light for something that emphasizes honey. The sweetness is also hard to identify. It's lightly noticeable when compared against the company's, "Smoke" variety, but without the comparison, you might not realize there's a sweet ingredient in this.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile of this jerky is salt, at a moderate to high level, and light amounts of garlic and black pepper. The natural meat flavor is well noticeable in this, and offers a little bit of a marbleized character.

The meat consistency seems excellent. It's dry, but feels soft and tender. It has a meaty chew, and once chewed down soft, feels just like a piece of steak. I can see some small bits of fat on these pieces, but otherwise there's little to no stringiness, and nothing unchewable.

Verdict

This Honey variety from Naked Cow Jerky doesn't quite give out a honey flavor, at least not significant enough to support the large, bold labeling on the package. It's not really that sweet at all either. For the most part, this jerky tastes just like the company's "Smoke" flavor that I reviewed last week. If anything, there's a subtle sweetness to this, but it's still too faint for something that markets itself as being sweet. Otherwise, it's still a very good jerky on its own merits. The marbleized, natural meat flavor comes through well. The seasonings compliment instead of getting in the way. Even though it's still a simple, unremarkable flavor, it manages to belt out a "natural" taste and chew. It tastes fresh, clean, and homemade, but retains the meaty chewing and tender consistency that we tend to expect from packaged jerky.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://nakedcowjerky.com/

Astro Fresh Jerky - Whiskey BBQ

January 9, 2016, 3:05 am

≫ Next: Chudabeef Jerky Strips - OG Spicy

≪ Previous: Naked Cow Jerky - Honey

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Astro Fresh Jerky is a brand owned by HJP Trading, LLC based out of Los Angeles, CA. It was started by Roy Park in early 2015 who found an old family recipe that dated back to the late 1980s.

Since then, Roy has been selling his jerky in local markets and retailers in California. Recently they started a website and are now taking online orders.

Astro Fresh Jerky currently lists 10 varieties of beef jerky and 1 variety of chicken jerky.

Ingredients

Beef, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, BBQ seasoning, whiskey bourbon, vinegar, honey, liquid smoke, corn syrup solids, cayenne pepper, sodium nitrite

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate are a strong sweet, BBQ sauce, and light bits of seasonings. The chewing brings on more sweet and BBQ sauce, but with a light vinegar tanginess. There's a light bit of heat in the background.

For being marketed as "Whiskey BBQ", it barely holds up. The whiskey bourbon component is difficult to identify. I do, however, pick up traces of whiskey flavor, mostly as alcohol and touches of malt. But if you weren't told this had whiskey in it, you'd never notice it. Otherwise, it largely tastes like BBQ sauce. It's the kind of BBQ sauce with loads of sweet, and moderate spiciness. It's tomatoey, with some tanginess, and a little bit of smoke flavoring.

There's also a light bit of heat in the background from the cayenne, but it's just enough to rate as "mild medium" on my personal heat scale (level 2 out of 5).

The primary taste profile is that of a heavily sweet BBQ sauce, mostly mild in spiciness, but with a light tang in the chewing.

I find some streaks of fat on some pieces, which adds a light fatty flavor. Otherwise, the heavy sweet and thick sauce makes this jerky rather gummy, and very sticky to handle. Somes pieces are very soft and moist, while others can be dry on the inside, but sticky on the outside. The chewing texture starts out gummy, but takes on a somewhat meaty character as the sweetness wears off. There's a light bit of stringiness, but nothing unchewable.

Verdict

This Whiskey BBQ from Astro Fresh Jerky dishes out a BBQ sauce flavor that's moderate in spice, heavy in sweet, but lightly tangy and smoky. The whiskey component is subtle, and you may not even notice it, but I think there's just enough there to support the name. Otherwise, this jerky is a little too sweet for my tastes, though the BBQ sauce flavor is quite snackable and good. I liked the touch of cayenne heat in the background, though I found the sticky handling to be a nuisance. Overall, it's a snackable jerky that's somewhat easy to chew, though also gummy and gooey. On the other hand, it doesn't do much to differentiate itself from other brands of whiskey-laced BBQ sauce jerky.

But, if you just like thick, sweet, BBQ sauced jerky, then this is a great choice.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.astrofreshjerky.com/

Chudabeef Jerky Strips - OG Spicy

January 11, 2016, 4:31 am

≫ Next: Kingmade Jerky - Sweet Chili Pepper

≪ Previous: Astro Fresh Jerky - Whiskey BBQ

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Chudabeef Jerky Strips is a brand launched by Kevin Casey based out of Long Beach, CA. The brand has been in business since 2014, and at the beginning of 2015 had just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Kevin is an active hiker and had been making his own jerky for his trips through the wilderness. His friends loved it so much, they offered to pay him for some. That got him interested in starting his own jerky business.

This Original is described the company as being based on the Original, but with, "extra spices to turn up the heat". They go on to add, "...will satisfy those jerky lovers with a knack for spicy foods."

Ingredients

Beef, tamari soy sauce, hot sauce, brown sugar, honey, chili powder, natural hickory smoke flavor, black pepper, onion powder, dried chili pepper, natural flavor.

Review

The first thing I taste on the palate is a light sweetness, with faint chile pepper flavor and a light bit of heat. The chewing brings on some of the onion flavor, but with more chile pepper definition, while the heat continues to escalate. There's also some tanginess in the chewing, and touches of chili powder.

For being called, "OG Spicy", and touted as being able to "turn up the heat", it seems to hold up well. I do get a fair amount of heat, what I would rate as "medium" on my personal heat scale (level 3 out of 5). I also get a fair amount of chile pepper flavor and some of the chili powder flavor too. It also has shades of the Original variety that this is claimed to be based on, with some of the onion flavor noticeable, and the tangy chewing.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of chile pepper flavor, chili powder, and heat, with some sweetness. The onion takes a backseat role in this, while the tanginess still grabs attention.

The meat consistency seem pretty good. I find mostly all meat with no visible signs of fat, though I experienced some stringiness. It's quite soft to chew, more so than you might expect. It has a very meaty chewing texture, though a little bit rubbery.

Verdict

This OG Spicy from Chudabeef Jerky Strips does a good job of living up to its expectations with a nice level of heat that I think would satisfy most spicy food lovers, but also dishes out some chile pepper flavor too. The chili powder gives off a noticeable smoky character, while the onion and tanginess represents the Original recipe. I actually think garlic would have worked better than onion in a chile pepper-based jerky, but that's just my personal preference. The meat consistency is great, and the chewing is tender and meaty. I don't pick up much of the natural meat flavors, and the texture is still somewhat rubbery. Overall, it's a very flavorful jerky that attacks all areas of the tongue.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.chudabeef.com/

Kingmade Jerky - Sweet Chili Pepper

January 12, 2016, 3:09 am

≫ Next: Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

≪ Previous: Chudabeef Jerky Strips - OG Spicy

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Kingmade Jerky is a brand that hit the market in 2013, launched by Jeff King, and based out of McKinney, TX. King had been working as a golf caddie for many years, with a hobby in making homemade jerky.

After bringing some batches of his jerky to the golf course, his fellow golfers liked it a lot, and kept asking him for more. It was only a few years later that big names like Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, Davis Love III, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel, among others, began buying jerky from him. Today, King has gone full corporate and now sells jerky to major retail outlets across the country.

This "Sweet Chili Pepper" is described as being made from flank steak, and seasoned with a blend of brown sugar and chili peppers, and is touted as the lowest sodium beef jerky on the market.

Ingredients

Beef, water, brown sugar, soy sauce, natural smoke flavoring, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a light sweet, a bit of smoke, and a light natural meat flavor. The chewing brings on more of the natural meat flavor, and imparts some marbleized character. There's a bit of heat building up, and faint bits of chile pepper flavor is noticeable.

For being named, "Sweet Chili Pepper", it seems to hold up well. There's indeed a sweetness noticeable, but it doesn't overpower. The chili pepper is also noticeable in terms of flavor, but also light. Meanwhile, the heat remains at a tolerable level, what I would rank as "medium" on my personal heat scale (level 3 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is largely the natural meat flavor, with a bit of marbleized character. There's a light seasoning of salt, smoke, and chile pepper, with a moderate level of heat.

The meat consistency is very good. Small bits of fat are easily seen on these pieces, but no stringiness to speak of. The small slices are convenient in not having to rip apart, and the handling feels clean. There are however, a lot of tiny pieces that you'll have to pour out of the bag to get to. Otherwise, the chewing is dry, but still easy to chew through. The texture is very meaty, and by the time it chews down soft, it feels like chewing real piece of steak, cooked well done.

Verdict

This Sweet Chili Pepper from Kingmade Jerky evokes a great sense of natural, fresh beef jerky through its focus on the great flavor of beef. The seasonings don't overpower but instead, add color to what is already a marbleized meat flavor. Combined with a tender, meaty, steak-like chewing texture, this jerky creates the sensation of eating slices of grilled, marinated steak. It's the sense of eating real beef, both in flavor and chewing, that wins me over on this.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

• http://kingmadejerky.com/

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

January 13, 2016, 6:20 am

≫ Next: Poor-Man's Jerky - Jalapeno

≪ Previous: Kingmade Jerky - Sweet Chili Pepper

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Note: Chef Craig's is a sponsor of this website, but has no effect on our ratings and reviews.

The newest flavor to come out of Chef Craig's Beef Jerky is this Black Thai. Read our review of their Original Beef Jerky.

Based out of West Kingston, RI, Chef Craig's Beef Jerky was originally started by Craig Mitchell, who holds a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University. He's been cooking professionally since 1978. Chef Craig's Beef Jerky was a way to extend his career in cooking and cuisine.

This Black Thai variety is described by the company as "The same chewy beef jerky with a taste of Asian spiciness; it leaves a lingering warm sensation in your mouth."

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, garlic chili pepper sauce, brown sugar, green curry paste (green chili, garlic, lemongrass, thai ginger, salt, shallot, spices, kaffir lime), sesame oil

Taste

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a sesame oil flavor, followed by a light soy sauce and a light, tangy chili pepper sauce. The sweetness is noticeable also, and there's a noticeable garlic to this as well.

The chewing brings in a bit more of the soy sauce, but also a flavor much like stir fry and touches of hoisin sauce. It has a tanginess, perhaps coming from the lemongrass, but a pungent character perhaps supported by the green curry. It has a very unmistakable Asian-like flavor that reminds me of Thai-style stir-fry.

For being marketed as "Black Thai", it holds up very well. From that very first sesame oil flavor, to the soy sauce, the chili pepper sauce, and the tangy/pungent green curry, this jerky oozes the words "Asian" and "Thai". It has a flavor that paints a picture of an Asian lunch cafe where chop sticks pick up noodles, slices of beef and vegetables, and bottles of fish sauce and Sriracha are squeezed. Imagine the smell of a large wok sizzling and smoking, locking in the flavors of spices, chiles, and sauces.

Otherwise, the flavors that seem to define this jerky is a tangy, savory, blend of soy sauce, chili sauce, and green curry, but laden with a noticeable sesame oil. There's also a noticeable sweetness to balance it out. Overall, it's hard to not identify this jerky as having an Asian flavor.

There's a moderate amount of heat to this as well. I'd rank it as Medium on my personal heat scale (level 3 out of 5).

I don't pick up any natural meat flavors. The marinades and seasonings seem to overpower.

Meat Consistency

These are slices of whole meat, sliced into bite-sized pieces of medium thickness. There's a fair amount of smaller sized bits too.

This is a dry jerky with a sticky, oily surface feel. These pieces have a good deal of flexibility, and seem slightly rubbery.

The chewing texture starts out with that slight rubbery feel, and offers a fair amount of chewing resistance. A few chews into it and it starts to soften, taking on a very meaty resemblance, and by the time its chewed down to a soft mass, it has a steak-like feel, though a touch rubbery.

I don't see much fat on these pieces and found no gristle or tendon. I don't encounter any stringiness, but felt a few pieces of unchewable tissues. It's mostly all meaty.

In terms of clean eating, my fingertips pick up a fair amount of oil requiring a licking and wiping before I touch the keyboard.

Snack Value

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky sells this Black Thai variety from its website at a price of $29.50 for a 10-pack. Each package is 1.75oz. With shipping of $5.95 to Southern California, it works out to a price of $2.03 per ounce.

For general jerky snacking purposes, at the $2.03 per ounce price, it's a great value. I'm getting a lot of delicious flavor from this jerky with an overall good meat consistency and good chewing texture. Compare to other brands of jerky sold in stores, it's priced about the same but offers far better flavor with good chewing.

As a Thai flavored beef jerky, at the same $2.03 per ounce price, it's a great value again. This has an unmistakable Thai flavor. The sesame oil, the garlic chili sauce, the green curry, all join forces to create a flavor that's hard to not identify as Thai cuisine.

Rating

I'm giving this a best rating.

This Black Thai jerky from Chef Craig's Beef Jerky woke up my senses and rang in the "wow factor" with flavors that touched all sensory zones on my tongue. The sweet, the salty, the pungent, the savory, the spicy, the tangy, it's all in these bite-sized chunks of meat.

First, I really love the sesame oil flavor on this because it works so well in giving the garlic chili sauce and green curry that extra bit of Asian-flavor. The pungent garlic and curry create a lot of contrasting flavors against the sesame oil and brown sugar, while the soy sauce adds the savory component that makes it satisfying to chew.

The meat consistency and chewing, overall, seem good. The oiliness on the fingertips can be nuisance if you're trying to snack while typing, driving, or channel surfing. And the chewing texture maintained a light rubbery character once chewed down. But overall, the chewing is still good and the flavor is so awesome you won't even notice it.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

• http://chefcraigsbeefjerky.com/

Poor-Man's Jerky - Jalapeno

January 14, 2016, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Naked Cow Jerky - Fire

≪ Previous: Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

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Poor-Man's Jerky is owned by Mike Stringfield, based out of Wellsville, KS. A landscaper by day, and jerky chef at all other times.

The name, "Poor-Man's Jerky" has often been used globally to refer to left-over scraps at the butcher shop that's been ground into jerky. And interestingly, this particular brand is also a ground beef product. But coincidentally, Poor-Man's Jerky doesn't have its own website; all sales comes from local street festivals and county fairs, as well as through Facebook.

This "Jalapeno" variety doesn't come with any other description or claims.

Ingredients

Beef eye round ground, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, spices, jalapeno powder, pickled jalapeno

Review

The first flavors I pick up on the tongue is a faint sweet, and light saltiness. Some garlic and onion seasoning is noticeable. The chewing brings on more of the seasoning, with shades of black pepper.

For being named, "Jalapeno", it doesn't hold up. I don't pick up any jalapeno chile flavor, nor any of the pickled jalapeno. I don't pick up any heat as well. I do, however, see small chunks of jalapeno mixed into these strips. I just don't taste any of it.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of garlic and onion seasoning. There's a touch of sweet initially, and shades of black pepper in the chewing.

The meat consistency is chopped and formed, and extruded into thin strips. Chewing is relatively easy, with a soft rubbery flexibility, and lightly oily to touch. The texture starts out feeling rubbery and plastic-like, but easily chews down into something meaty, more like finely gound beef.

Verdict

This Jalapeno variety from Poor-Man's Jerky doesn't provide much jalapeno flavor. I can't identify the unique flavor of jalapeno chiles, nor the vinegary, pickled jalapeno. If anything, I do see chunks of jalapenos mixed into the meat, and perhaps that might add value for some folks. On its own merits, this jerky is still snackable through savory blend of seasonings and marinade, but without the jalapeno showing, it ends up redundant after several pieces. But the chewing is easy, and the texture is meaty. But compared to other brands of chopped and formed jerky, this doesn't stand out from the rest.

Rating: Average

Buy this online:

• https://www.facebook.com/poormans.jerky

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Naked Cow Jerky - Fire

January 15, 2016, 4:38 am

≫ Next: Astro Fresh Jerky - Milky Way BBQ

≪ Previous: Poor-Man's Jerky - Jalapeno

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Naked Cow Jerky is a new brand that launched in October 2015. It's a brand of Appalachian Jerky Company.

Naked Cow Jerky was launched to specifically to cater to a growing audience seeking minimally processed jerky, made with natural ingredients. Their jerky offerings are made with 100% grass fed beef, sea salt, and spiced. They use no artificial preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, MSG or soy. They claim to be "paleo-friendly", gluten-free, and made in a USDA inspected facility. They are currently selling in Boston, MA area at various retail locations and Cross-Fit gyms. It's also available online.

This "Fire" variety is based on the "Smoke" variety we reviewed earlier, but adds cayenne, habanero, and ghost chile peppers. The company claims that it, "really brings the heat".

Ingredients

Grass-fed beef, sea salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, ghost chili peppers, black pepper, garlic powder, beet powder, celery powder

Review

The first flavors to hit my palate are a saltiness, followed by a well-noticed chile pepper flavor. The chewing brings on more saltiness, along with a more defined chile pepper flavor, including a little bit of garlic and black pepper. The natural meat flavors are lightly noticeable.

For being marketed as, "Fire", and claiming that it, "really brings the heat", it stands up OK. There's definitely a fair amount of heat to this, perhaps enough to warrant the use of the label, "Fire", but in comparison to other brands of jerky that make similar claims, this one is more like a burning ember than a blazing fire. It's hot enough to rank as "Hot" on my personal heat scale (level 5 out of 5), but considering it's made from habanero and ghost pepper chiles, I would expect it to be hotter.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile of this jerky is that of salt, but with a fair amount of chile pepper flavor. I can pick up the unique character of habanero chiles in this. The salt is still more dominant, however. There's a light touch of garlic and black pepper. The natural meat flavor is noticeable, along with its marbleized taste.

The meat consistency seems excellent. It's dry, but feels soft and tender. It has a meaty chew, and once chewed down soft, feels just like a piece of steak. I can see some small bits of fat on these pieces, but otherwise there's little to no stringiness, and nothing unchewable.

Verdict

This Fire variety from Naked Cow Jerky dishes out a fair amount of heat, enough to warrant the use of the word "Fire", though for something made from habanero and ghost pepper chiles, I would have expected something more hot. This jerky does, however, offer a lot of chile pepper flavor, particularly the unique taste of habanero. I like that the base flavor of this jerky still comes through, and that the natural meat flavors, along with its marbleized quality, still comes through as well. Combined with the tender meat consistency, and steak-like chewing texture, it offers an excellent meat snacking experience to spicy food addicts.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

• http://nakedcowjerky.com/

Astro Fresh Jerky - Milky Way BBQ

January 16, 2016, 4:36 am

≫ Next: Jedidiah's Jerky - Lemon Peppered Beef Brisket

≪ Previous: Naked Cow Jerky - Fire

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Astro Fresh Jerky is a brand owned by HJP Trading, LLC based out of Los Angeles, CA. It was started by Roy Park in early 2015 who found an old family recipe that dated back to the late 1980s.

Since then, Roy has been selling his jerky in local markets and retailers in California. Recently they started a website and are now taking online orders.

This Milky Way BBQ is different from the company's Whiskey BBQ in that it does not contain whiskey, but adds honey instead.

Ingredients

Beef, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, BBQ seasoning, vinegar, honey, liquid smoke, corn syrup solids, cayenne pepper, sodium nitrite.

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a heavy sweet, followed by a tomatoey BBQ sauce. The chewing brings on much of the same flavors.

For being marketed as a BBQ jerky, it seems to hold up well. It mostly presents a sweet BBQ sauce flavor, much more mild in spice compared to their "Whiskey BBQ". It has a faint bit of tanginess, and a touch of smoke. Despite the addition of honey in this variety, there doesn't seem to be any more sweetness, nor much of a honey flavor. But it perhaps doesn't matter, it's already plenty sweet and sticky.

I find some streaks of fat on some pieces, which adds a light fatty flavor. Otherwise, the heavy sweet and thick sauce makes this jerky rather gummy, and very sticky to handle. Somes pieces are very soft and moist, while others can be dry on the inside, but sticky on the outside. The chewing texture starts out gummy, but takes on a somewhat meaty character as the sweetness wears off. There's a light bit of stringiness, but nothing unchewable.

Verdict

This Milky Way BBQ from Astro Fresh Jerky offers a heavily sweet, BBQ sauce flavor. It's better suited for folks who want the taste of BBQ without the stronger spice of the company's "Whiskey BBQ" variety. But for me, that seems to make this jerky less interesting. The cayenne pepper component seems lost in this jerky, and thereby makes the sweet more prominent. In any case, I find this being too sweet, with not enough spice and variety. The meat consistency is rather gummy and sticky, due to the heavy sweet. It's somewhat easy to chew, and has a meaty feel, but still seems gummy.

Rating: Fair

Buy this online:

• http://www.astrofreshjerky.com/

Jedidiah's Jerky - Lemon Peppered Beef Brisket

January 17, 2016, 3:15 pm

≫ Next: Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Hawaiian

≪ Previous: Astro Fresh Jerky - Milky Way BBQ

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This "Lemon Peppered" is a new flavor from Jedidiah's Jerky. It's part of their revamped line up of beef brisket jerky.

Jedidiah's Jerky is a brand that we reviewed before (read the reviews here). Some time ago, they reintroduced their line of jerky with new recipes and new branding, and moved their headquarters to Laughlin, NV to Beatty, NV. Jedidiah's Jerky also has since opened up a chain of beef jerky stores called, "Jed's Jerky" throughout Nevada and California.

This "Lemon Peppered" jerky doesn't come with any additional description or claims.

Ingredients

Beef brisket, gluten free reduced sodium tamari soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, black pepper, granulated garlic

Review

The first flavor I pick up on the tongue is a sweetness and light salt. The black pepper is faintly noticeable. The chewing brings on some soy sauce, with a touch of tanginess, and a little bit more black pepper.

For being labeled, "Lemon Peppered", it holds up somewhat. There's definitely a black pepper flavor in this, with a freshly cracked sharpness and a bit of bite. The lemon, however, is hard to find. It does show up with a light tanginess and touches of fruit, but nothing uniquely lemon or citrusy. Towards the end of chewing, the natural meat flavors come out a little.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a soy sauce with a noticeable sweet, highlighted with black pepper, and a tangy chew.

The meat consistency is excellent for beef brisket jerky. It's quite soft and tender, and very meaty. There's only light stringiness found. The chewing texture feels like real meat, just quite soft and tender. Some strips are very soft and tend to chew mushy, but there are some pieces more dry and chewy. Some pieces have bits of fat on them, which adds some flavor.

Verdict

This Lemon Peppered Beef Brisket Jerky from Jedidiah's offers a tangy chewing marked with a sweetend soy sauce and a black pepper bite. It's very soft and tender, almost like marinated steak cooked medium rare. While I don't really pick up a unique lemon note, it has a tanginess and mild fruity character that one might associate with lemon. Otherwise, the moist, tender chewing really brings out the black pepper and the savory marinade. Think of this more like a tender, moist, tangy, black peppered jerky.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.jedsjerky.com

Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Hawaiian

January 18, 2016, 4:04 am

≫ Next: Kingmade Jerky - Buffalo Style

≪ Previous: Jedidiah's Jerky - Lemon Peppered Beef Brisket

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Chudabeef Jerky Strips is a brand launched by Kevin Casey based out of Long Beach, CA. The brand has been in business since 2014, and at the beginning of 2015 had just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Kevin is an active hiker and had been making his own jerky for his trips through the wilderness. His friends loved it so much, they offered to pay him for some. That got him interested in starting his own jerky business.

This Hawaiian is described the company as being marinated with fresh Pineapple and Orange Juice to, "...create the sweetest flavor we have to offer". It goes on to suggest that if you have a candy addiction, that this Hawaiian variety will satify your sweet tooth.

Ingredients

Beef, tamari soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, sweetened rice vinegar, orange juice, sesame oil, garlic powder, green onion, dried chili pepper, ginger, natural flavor

Review

The first thing I taste on the palate is a sweetness with some tang, and a light salt. The chewing brings on a tangy vinegar, with touches of orange, maybe bits of pineapple, along with a garlic and onion seasoning. There's a faint natural meat flavor towards the end.

For being dubbed, "Hawaiian" and described as being sweet enough to satisfy a candy addiction, it's hard to say if this holds up. There certainly is a sweetness in there, but it's not heavy. I'd say the vinegar is strong enough to create a balance of sweet, tangy, and pungent. Think of something along the lines of mandarin orange vinegarette salad dressing, where the vinegar has a light citrusy orange and a little bit of sweet. I don't think this will satisfy a sweet tooth, but I think I still taste hints of Hawaiian style cuisine in here.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a tangy vinegar flavor, with a swash of citrusy orange for a lightly fruity character. There's some noticeable sweet in this, not a lot, and then some identifiable garlic and onion seasoning. Overall, it's a very mild tasting jerky, suitable for all snackers.

The meat consistency seem pretty good. I find mostly all meat with no visible signs of fat, though I experienced some stringiness. It's quite soft to chew, more so than you might expect. It has a very meaty chewing texture, though a little bit rubbery.

Verdict

This Hawaiian variety from Chudabeef Jerky Strips offers a fruity orange character, perhaps something you might find in Hawaiian style cuisine. It's not the heavily sweet, pineapple-laced style I tend to associate with the Hawaiian Islands, but it still seems to impart some of those themes. Otherwise, it's actually quite tasty, and quite a unique flavor I don't often find in competing jerky brands. I actually like tangy vinegar flavor, with a touch of citrus. It's not as sweet as the company would have you believe, but still quite satisfying in its own right. The soy sauce doesn't identify itself very well, thus I don't pick up much savory, which leaves this jerky tasting light and airy. Aside from the lightly rubbery chew, it's overall satisfying, just not in a sweet way.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://www.chudabeef.com/

Kingmade Jerky - Buffalo Style

January 19, 2016, 4:23 am

≫ Next: Poor-Man's Jerky - Hawaiian Heatwave

≪ Previous: Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Hawaiian

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Kingmade Jerky is a brand that hit the market in 2013, launched by Jeff King, and based out of McKinney, TX. King had been working as a golf caddie for many years, with a hobby in making homemade jerky.

After bringing some batches of his jerky to the golf course, his fellow golfers liked it a lot, and kept asking him for more. It was only a few years later that big names like Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, Davis Love III, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel, among others, began buying jerky from him. Today, King has gone full corporate and now sells jerky to major retail outlets across the country.

This "Buffalo Style" is described as being made from flank steak, and seasoned with a sweet, vinegary, Buffalo-style sauce.

Ingredients

Beef, hot sauce, brown sugar, water, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, natural smoke flavoring, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a light salt, followed by a light vinegar. There's a onion-like taste coming up. The chewing brings on more of the same, with some light natural meat flavor, and touches of garlic.

For being marketed as, "Buffalo Style", it holds up somewhat. It does have a flavor reminiscent of buffalo wing sauce, more so from the vinegar and shades of chile pepper. But it's light, or perhaps watered down, such that it only gives you a light taste. There's no heat to speak of, even though the packaging suggests a medium level.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a lightly sweetened vinegar, with a sauce comparable tabasco and worcestershire, but watered down. There's a light saltiness, and shades of garlic. The natural meat flavors are noticeable, but are much more light than compared to the company's other varieties.

The meat consistency is good. Small bits of fat are easily seen on these pieces, but no stringiness to speak of. The small slices are convenient in not having to rip apart, and the handling feels clean. There are however, a lot of tiny pieces that you'll have to pour out of the bag to get to. The chewing feels more dry than the company's other varieties, and a little more mushy, perhaps due to the vinegar in the hot sauce.

Verdict

This Buffalo Style from Kingmade Jerky has a flavor reminiscent of Buffalo Wing sauce, but remains light and underpowered. It has the vinegar from the hot sauce, and touches of cayenne pepper, but doesn't really pronounce itself well. Meanwhile, the natural meat flavor has a lighter showing in this than compared to the company's other varieties. Also, the chewing texture feels a little more mushy too, perhaps from the vinegar. Overall, this doesn't quite have the natural character and texture of real beef that Kingmade established in its Classic Recipe. I think it's still a good jerky on its own merits, however.

Rating: Good

Buy this online:

• http://kingmadejerky.com/