Beef Jerky Reviews

Country Archer Jerky is a well known brand in the meat snack industry, going back to 1977 when it became the private labeler for hundreds of brands over the decades. Now based in San Bernardino, CA, the company is leveraging its own brand and pushing its own line of jerky into stores across the country.

As the jerky market has migrated towards preservative-free, natural ingredients, so has Country Archer. The company claims it's jerky is handcrafted, made in small batches, using all natural ingredients.

This Mango Habanero flavor is described as a being, "...a sweeter, more sophisticated way to spice things up."

Ingredients

Grass fed beef, organic brown sugar, mango puree, guten free tamari soy sauce, organic seasoned rice vinegar dressing, garlic, red chili pepper, habanero chili pepper

Review

The first flavor that comes to my palate is fruity sweet, along with a light habanero flavor. The chewing brings on the mango flavor, including a more defined habanero flavor, along with a light tangy rice wine vinegar. Touches of garlic and soy sauce is noticeable.

For being dubbed, "Mango Habanero", it seems to hold up well. I do pick up a well-noticeable mango fruity flavor and sweet, along with the sharp, floral flavor of habanero. The level of heat in this is not as hot as one might expect with habanero, I'd rate this as "medium" on my personal heat scale (level 3 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of sweet, fruity mango, coupled with a lighter habanero chile flavor, and the tanginess of rice wine vinegar. Add a touch of soy sauce and garlic, and you have a jerky that's mostly sweet and spicy, and lightly salty and savory.

Meat consistency seems good in this, with only small, light streaks of fat noticeable. It's mostly easy to eat, lightly chewy, yet still meaty. It actually takes on a steak-like texture to some degree.

Verdict

This Mango Habanero beef jerky from Country Archer does a pretty good job of representing its advertised flavors, though tones down the heat to a level acceptable to a wider audience. I like the addition of rice wine vinegar to create the tangy lively chewing, but I really like the well-defined mango flavor, something you don't get enough of in competing brands. While I would have liked to get more of the habanero heat, I find myself feeling fulfilled from the unique habanero flavor in this jerky. This is not a jerky for hot food fanatics, for those who are curious what habanero tastes like, this makes for a great introduction.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.countryarcher.com

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

One the newest jerky brands on the market is Chef Craig's Beef Jerky. A product of CJM Products, it's based out of West Kingston, RI.

It's the idea of Craig Mitchell, who a few years ago, had sent me samples of his own homemade jerky, with the intent of launching a business someday. Mitchell received his Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University, and has been cooking professionally since 1978.

As of this review, the only flavor Chef Craig's offers is this Original.

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, soy sauce, hot sauce, liquid smoke, browning sauce, worcestershire sauce, black pepper, steak seasoning, red pepper, lemon pepper, garlic, onion, chili powder, chipotle chile pepper.

Taste

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a saucy sweetness with some smokiness mixed in. It's almost like a sweet & smoky combination of worcestershire, soy sauce, and au jus (think French Dip). A light burn begins building.

The chewing flavor brings in a natural meat flavor, but with some citrus-like tanginess. The burn continues to build up.

For being the company's Original flavor, it's anything but plain. In fact, it's very flavorful, with a well-seasoned marinade that tastes much different than many other brands. The tanginess in the chewing livens up the snacking, while the natural meat flavor satisfies the carnivore in me.

It also has a moderate level of heat in this, something I'd rate on my personal heat scale as "medium" (level 3 out of 5). But I don't really taste much of the chile pepper flavor, perhaps just a faint bit reaching through the heavier saucey-seasoned marinade.

The flavor of this jerky seems to build up higher as the chewing goes on. When I put a piece into my mouth, the flavor starts out low and gradually increases with each chew. You could suck on a piece without chewing, and almost get the same effect. There's enough flavor in these meat slices that you can get a lot of it without chewing.

The level of saltiness in this feels moderate, maybe a touch above.

Overall, what you're going to get is a well-seasoned marinade with a very saucy flavor, much like a trio of worcestershire, soy sauce, and french dip au jus, along with a noticeable natural meat flavor, a nice tanginess in the chewing, and moderate amount of heat.

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 slightly sticky 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 light bit of chewing resistance. A few chews into it and it starts to soften. It begins to take on a very meaty resemblance, and by the time its chewed down to a soft mass, it feels very much like a piece of steak cooked medium-well.

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, it's mostly clean. My fingertips do collect a light bit of stickiness, but not enough to require a licking or wiping before touching my keyboard.

Snack Value

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky sells this Original variety from its website at a price of $28.00 for package of 10 (each package is 1.75oz). Shipping is $5.95. That works out to a price of $1.94 per ounce.

For general jerky snacking purposes, at the $1.94 per ounce price, it's a good value. I'm getting a great overall flavor, with a good meat consistency and good chewing texture. Compared to major brands of jerky sold in stores, it's priced about the same, but provides much better flavor and a little better chewing.

Rating

This Original beef jerky from Chef's Craig's tastes far from ordinary, packing in a lot of good flavors. It has a very tasty marinade, more like a combination of worcestershire, soy sauce, and french dip au jus, but with a good deal of sweet and smokiness mixed in.

But then it adds a nice natural meat flavor with a citrus tanginess. Throw in a touch of chile pepper flavor and a moderate level of heat, and it creates a very impressive flavor profile, and not overly salty

The meat consistency is overall good. It starts out with a light rubbery feel, but manages to chew down to a steak-like texture. It's very meaty with little to no stringiness or unchewable tissues. Collecting together the tiny bits of meat can provide something of a hindrance, but overall not that bad.

For me, it was the impressive flavor that opened my eyes and made me think, "Wow, this is great!"

My recommended beer pairing for this, go with a porter, such as the Sierra Nevada Porter, or the Stone Smoked Porter.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://www.chefcraigsbeefjerky.com/

Ria's RoadKill Jerky is now selling its own turkey jerky. According to the company, it's made from 100% breast meat, and slow smoked for 6 hours.

Ria's Roadkill is run by Eden Van, based out of Long Beach, CA. Eden got started in making jerky after receiving compliments on his barbecue recipes. He uses USDA inspected meats from his local meat market. All jerky is dehydrated in a smoker.

This new Turkey Jerky is claimed to be available now from their Etsy store.

Ingredients

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

Review

The first flavors I pick up are sweet and smokey. The soy sauce comes in soon after. The chewing brings on more of the sweet, along with touches of garlic and onion.

For being a smoked turkey jerky, it has a well-pronounced smokey flavor that comes on right away, along with a smokey aroma that hits you once the bag is opened.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of real wood smoke, with a significant sweetness, over a soy sauce marinade and touches of seasoning.

The meat consistency looks excellent. Thick slices of turkey breast meat, with a slight moist feel, chew fairly easily. They take on a meaty chewing texture, and feel just like real tender, turkey breast meat.

Verdict

This turkey jerky from Ria's Roadkill offers up the great taste of real wood smoke in thick, meaty slices of turkey breast meat. I found it easy to chew, with a chewing texture very much like roasted turkey breast. Unlike the company's beef jerky, I was only able to get a light amount of natural meat flavor. It's mostly just smoke, soy sauce, and sweet that I taste. But, I love the flavor of real wood smoked meats, and I was impressed with the meat consistency and chewing texture.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

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

This "Spicy Memphis Style BBQ" 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 from 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 "Spicy Memphis Style BBQ" is pretty new, and should start showing up on the company's website soon.

Ingredients

Beef brisket, sugar, gluten free reduced sodium tamari soy sauce, BBQ concentrate, crushed red chili pepper.

Review

The first flavor I pick up on the tongue is a sweet BBQ sauce flavor, and a tangy vinegar. The chewing brings on more of the BBQ sauce, along with some spicy seasonings, including garlic, black pepper, and cayenne.

For being marketed as, "Spicy Memphis Style BBQ" this seems to hold up. If you consider Memphis Style BBQ as the dry-rub style of barbecue, this jerky has that flavor in the form of strong seasonings. But it also has that tomatoey, saucey flavor too, along with vinegar. In a sense, it's like Memphis Style BBQ with touches of Kansas City and Georgia styles mixed in.

It's also spicy with a light bit of heat, and a faint bit of chile pepper flavor. I'd rate this as "medium" (level 3 out of 5) on my personal heat scale.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a sweet BBQ sauce flavor, mixed with vinegar, spices, and seasonings, and a light bit of heat.

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 Spicy Memphis Style BBQ Beef Brisket variety from Jedidiah's Jerky offers up a bold seasoning blend much like what you'd expect from Memphis Style, but also mixes in some Kansas City and Georgia styles with a thick sweet tomatoey sauce and a tangy vinegar. It's jam-packed with flavor, attacks all areas of the tongue, and tosses in some heat too. The meat consistency and chewing texture is excellent for a brisket jerky, soft, tender, but meaty and little stringiness. It's the kind of jerky that would go great with a malty beer like a porter or nut brown ale.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://www.jedsjerky.com

California Wine Country Jerky is a brand owned by GJ Products, based out of Clackamas, OR. It's run by Glenn Loehr who started it in 2015.

The company also owns, "Northwest Bierhaus Jerky", "Oregon Wine Country Jerky" and "Washington Wine Country Jerky". Together, these brands infuse the flavors of craft beer and wine from the Pacific Northwest, and target the tourist and gift basket markets.

This, "Hot Cabernet Beef Jerky" is described by the company as combining, "the well structured wine with a hint of spiciness".

Ingredients

Beef, wine, brown sugar, soy sauce, salt, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, black pepper, red chili flake, celery powder

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a light sweet and salt, and touches of garlic and onion. The chewing brings on the flavor of wine-marinated beef, along with a bit more sweet, salt, garlic, and onion. There's a faint bit of heat in the background.

For being marketed as, "Hot Cabernet", it has the flavor of red wine-marinated beef, but is not necessarily "hot". The spiciness is quite toned down, to what I would rate as "mild medium" on my personal heat scale (level 2 out of 5). And there's little cayenne or red chile pepper flavor.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is largely a garlic and onion seasoning, with a moderate sweet and salt, and the flavor of red wine-marinated beef.

The meat consistency looks great. These are thick strips of whole muscle, appearing lean with little to no signs of fat. Chewing is chewy, and but still easy overall, and breaks apart easily. It takes on a meaty feel, with a little bit of a steak-like texture. Handling is sticky and lightly oily.

Verdict

This Hot Cabernet Beef Jerky from California Wine Country does a good job of offering the unique flavor of wine-marinated beef. It has that dry, earthy red-wine marinade front and center and then flanked with simple seasonings. It's not at all "hot" as the name suggests, only lightly spicy, and otherwise tolerable for most sensitivities. After several bites of this jerky, the wine-marinated meat flavor tends to give way to the seasonings, and I can't seem to find that flavor anymore. Otherwise, it's still good chewing, and still overall a satisfying flavor.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.northwestbierhausjerky.com/

Lehigh Biltong is a new brand that got started in September 2015 by Dan Levy, based out of Bethlehem, PA. Levy, who grew up in England from South African parents, had always loved biltong. But when he moved to the United States, it was hard to find.

After becoming frustrated with paying high prices for biltong and waiting weeks on delivery, Levy decided to make his own.

Now a senior at Lehigh University, he balances his studies in Mechanical Engineering and running his new biltong brand. He uses antibiotic-free beef, along with the usual ingredients of salt, vinegar, coriander, and black pepper, but throws in a kick of Old Bay seasoning.

Ingredients

Beef, salt, Old Bay Seasoning, coriander, black pepper, distilled vinegar

Review

The first flavors I pick up are coriander seed, a light salt, followed by vinegar. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, with the tanginess of vinegar, along with more of the coriander and salt.

As biltong, it definitely fits the bill as the classic South African charcuterie. I get the hallmark biltong flavors of coriander and vinegar, with a light salt and pepper, and the unmistakeable aged beef. The addition of Old Bay Seasoning shows up on the taste buds in very light amounts, and still lets the coriander and vinegar take spotlight.

It's appearance is more clean, in that it doesn't have lots of dried coriander flakes, yet still offers much of that flavor. It also has a more clean flavor, and a little less aftertaste than other brands.

The meat consistency is excellent. It actually chews more tender than competing brands of biltong, almost to that moist softness of prosciutto or capicola. I see light amounts of fat, but otherwise its very meaty, and has the chewing texture of soft, thinly sliced roast beef.

Verdict

Lehigh Biltong offers that famous flavor and chewing South African meat snacks are known for. It's more soft and more easy to chew than competing brands, and it tastes more clean as well. People who've never tried biltong before would do well to start with Lehigh's brand, just to get a good baseline of what biltong is all about. But even those who love biltong will appreciate the softer, more tender chewing, and clean flavor of Lehigh.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.lehighbiltong.com/

Crockett Creek Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Magnolia Provision Company, Inc., based out of Knoxville, TN. The brand has been around since 1994.

Magnolia Provisions is also well known as a beef jerky co-packer, making jerky for many other companies. They also produce steaks, chops, patties, and other cuts of beef for retail.

This Original beef jerky is described by the company as having, "the perfect balance in texture. It's moist and chewy and lightly marinated."

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, vinegar, liquid smoke, hot sauce, pineapple juice, garlic powder.

Review

The first flavors I pick up are a light salt and touches of sweet. There's a faint soy sauce that comes in. The chewing brings on touches of garlic and a hint of pineapple, along with the natural meat flavors.

As far as the company claiming this to be "lightly marinated", I'd have to agree. It's a mild flavored jerky that lets the natural meat flavors come through.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of beef stock but lighter on salt, with the natural meat flavors. Imagine eating a french dip sandwich dipped in au jus, it's similar. There's a light bit of sweet and hints of pineapple.

The meat consistency is that of thick slabs of round cut across the grain. I see some fat and gristle, but I don't feel them in the chewing. I wouldn't call this "moist" as the company says, it's more on the dry side. It definitely is chewy, however. Overall, it's still easy to chew, and takes on a meaty, steak-like chewing texture.

Verdict

This Original beef jerky from Crockett Creek does a good job of letting the natural flavors of beef show through by using a light marinade. It offers a meaty, steak-like texture that's still easy to chew. Overall, it's a great example of beef jerky that lets you enjoy the full richness of beef. You're not going to get a blast of exotic fruit flavors, or a thick candy sweetness, just old fashioned style beef jerky. Compared to other brands of light-tasting jerky, it's actually pretty good because it retains all the natural characteristics of beef in terms of flavor and chewing, which makes it perfect for traditionalists, beef purists, and those with mild tongues.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://www.crockettcreek.com/

Crazy Horse Jerky recently developed their own Bacon Jerky. They sent us a sample for review.

Unlike other bacon jerky brands, Crazy Horse uses thick chunks of bacon opposed to thin strips. They use a hickory smoked bacon from a local butcher, cut into bite-sized chunks, then smother it with their blend of sweet & spicy seasonings. To finish it off, it's baked in a convection oven.

Crazy Horse Jerky is based out of Hellam, PA, run by Dave Wenrich and Cara Wenrich. The brand is known for its real wood smoked jerky, smoked in an old walk-in smoker, hand-crafted and small-batched in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Ingredients

None provided.

Review

The first flavors I pick up is the classic, smoked bacon flavor, along with a light sweetness. The seasonings come in and create the savory sensation with only a hint of spice. The chewing brings on the meaty flavor of smoked pork with the fatty flavor mixed in.

As a bacon jerky, it does pretty well to represent the chewy, meaty expectation of jerky. These are very thick slices, with a lot more meat than standard bacon. You get a lot of meaty chew in each piece. But it's not tough at all, quite moist and tender like a lot of jerky brands these days.

Otherwise, this has the full, rich flavor of classic bacon, but of the old school variety, like smoked pork, salted and seasoned, but also sweetned up for snacking.

The meat consistency is beautiful. More meat than fat, extra-thick slices, yet tender, moist, and easy to chew.

Verdict

This "Million Dollar Bacon" from Crazy Horse Jerky does a fantastic job of taking the old breakfast classic into a new level of snacking. In comparison to other brands of bacon jerky, this gives you extra-thick chunks of meat, not the standard thin-sliced stuff you find in grocery stores. There's actually more meat on this bacon than fat so that you get the full chewing experience of jerky. I also like the bite-sized chunks, and the light sweet, perfect for snacking. This is like dark-chocolate truffles for meat snackers! It would also do well served as appetizers with gourmet cheese and wine.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://crazyhorsejerky.com/

Little Bit Jerky is a new brand that launched in February 2016, by Robert Helmcamp and Teresa Helmcamp, based out of Wichita Falls, TX.

Robert is a professional butcher of 22 years, learning the craft the "old school" way, and developed his own seasonings. Little Bit Jerky is made fresh daily from top round, and marinated for 18-24 hours.

This "Twisted Bit" is described by the company as tasting Cajun variety, "with a mix of traditional Texas smoke flavor twisted with the bold taste of jalapenos."

Ingredients

Beef, water, natural hickory wood smoke, vinegar, salt, onion, garlic, black pepper, crushed dark red chile, hydrolyzed soy & corn protein, sugar, molasses, papain, citric acid, smoked paprika, chipotle, cayenne, jalapeno powder

Review

The first flavors I taste is a moderate salt, followed by a blend of liquid smoke, vinegar, garlic and onion. The chewing brings on a rich, natural meat flavor, with a moderate spicy heat. The black pepper comes in later in the chewing, with touches of cayenne and jalapeno.

For being described as a Cajun variety, I can definitely taste it in here. It has the peppery blend of cayenne, black pepper, and jalapeno, but also the onion and garlic. The liquid smoke, combined with the smoked paprika and chipotle definitely gives this a smokey, earthy, Texas character. On my personal heat scale, I'd rate this as "medium" (level 3 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a salty blend of seasonings, marked by touches of cayenne and chile pepper, and a noticeable smoke. The natural meat flavors are well identified, mostly in the latter part of chewing, as a well-done cooked steak.

The meat consistency looks really good, mostly all meat, sliced into slabs of medium thickness. It's dry, but flexible, and manages to tear apart with light effort. The chewing starts out quite chewy and eventually softens up enough to feel like a well-done cooked steak.

Verdict

This Twisted Bit from Little Bit Jerky definitely rocks the Cajun variety, but throws in enough of the southwest character with some chile pepper and smoke. I found the saltiness rather prominent, just as with other varieties I've reviewed from Little Bit. The seasonings are strong and burst all over the tongue, but you definitely need a liquid companion to help alleviate the saltiness. I like the natural meat flavors that come out in this, and I love the meaty, steak-like chewing.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://littlebitjerky.com/

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky is a brand owned by John Bailey, based out of Salinas, CA. The brand has been around since 1999.

Manufactured in their very own USDA inspected facility, Beefy Boys is made from top round sourced from a supplier located 120 miles from their plant, then marinated and cooked using an old family recipe.

This Peppered variety is described by the company as being made with a "secret family recipe dating back to 1963", being exactly as the first recipe ever made by Beefy Boys, with the addition of black pepper. It's said to be more mild than their over flavors, but that the pepper puts some kick into it.

Ingredients

Beef, water, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, seasoned salt, spice, other flavorings.

Review

The first flavors that I pick up is a beefy flavor, with a light salt and faint sweet. The chewing brings on a noticeable soy sauce, along with a light natural meat flavor.

For being named, "Pepppered", it offers a light peppery taste in the background, not the sharp, pungent, spicy flavor that other beef jerky brands spank out. There is, however, noticeable sprinkling of ground pepper on these pieces.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of soy sauce, but a little more mild. It's mixed with a touch of sweet, hints of seasonings, and a light natural meat flavor.

The meat consitency looks excellent. Seemingly all meat, sliced into slabs that rip apart from the grain easily, and chew down with a fair amount of ease. It's mostly dry, but still tender, and by the time it chews down, takes on a steak-like texture. I didn't find any stringiness or anything unchewable.

Verdict

This Peppered Beef Jerky from Beefy Boys adds a light peppery spice to an otherwise mild, lightly seasoned marinade. It seems well suited for jerky snackers who want to go easy on ingredients, while enojying the natural flavor of beef. Otherwise, this is classic American slab jerky, dry, meaty, natural, in the old fashioned "rip and tear" variety. If you want to go strong on the black pepper, this isn't for you. This is effectively a mild jerky that adds a touch of pepper to make it interesting.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.ourlocale.org/

Billed as one of the company's top selling varieties, this Cowboy style from Jedidiah's Beef Jerky is meant to be a throwback to the old days of campfire cooking, saddle sores, and pesky indians. Jedidiah's Jerky was started by David Coffey, a veteran of the beef jerky business, having taken his first bite of the industry in 1984, when he went to work for Polley's Beef Jerky. In 2005, he went to work for himself by starting Jedidiah's Jerky. Based out of Beatty, NV, Coffey also runs a chain of beef jerky outlets called, "Jed's Jerky", with locations throughout Nevada and California.

This "Cowboy Style" is more of a man's jerky, made with no added sugar, just simple seasonings and strong dose of cracked black pepper corns.

Ingredients

Beef steak, water, soy sauce, lemon juice, liquid smoke flavor, black pepper, garlic, sodium nitrate.

Review

The first flavor I pick up on the tongue is a light soy sauce with a fair amount of garlic. A touch of smoke is noticeable. The black pepper starts to work its magic. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, with more definition from the pepper, and a bit more soy sauce.

For being billed as "Cowboy" it certainly does have a traditional flavor and chewing. And yes, it does taste like something cowboys would chew. If you consider a rough, burly ranch-hand whose taste buds have been scarred over from too much coffee and chewing tobacco, this jerky does punch through with enough garlic, salt and pepper to make a man want to pump lead into someone's belly.

Seriously, the primary taste profile is largely a combination of soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper, over the natural flavor of beef. It's really the soy sauce and garlic that provides the base flavor, with the black pepper adding all the spice. The black pepper tastes sharp and pungent, like it was freshly cracked. It doesn't overwhelm the palate, but definitely grabs some attention.

The meat consistency also seems fitting for a bow-legged buckaroo. Lean slabs of steak, dry and chewy, but still easy to get through, feel very meaty and chew just like real bites of steak cooked well done. I find only minimal stringiness and nothing unchewable.

Verdict

This Cowboy Beef Jerky from Jedidiah's seems to really define the company's namesake, a cow punchin', bronco bustin', chew that tastes and feels like nothing short of manliness. There's no fruity crap, no candy sweet, and no organic junk in this stuff. Heck, it's even got sodium nitrite in it, and the bag is large enough to fit your sausage fingers into. But in all seriousness, this is a simple, old school jerky that puts all the emphasis on chewing texture and natural meat flavors, with simple seasonings. The saltiness can feel strong in this, but then again, this jerky ain't for pilgrims.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.jedsjerky.com

Crockett Creek Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Magnolia Provision Company, Inc., based out of Knoxville, TN. The brand has been around since 1994.

Magnolia Provisions is also well known as a beef jerky co-packer, making jerky for many other companies. They also produce steaks, chops, patties, and other cuts of beef for retail.

This "Lengendary Barbecue" variety is described by the company as, "the perfect blend of down home barbecue that starts off with the perfect sweetness and ends with just the right amount of kick."

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, liquid smoke, garlic, spices.

Review

The first flavors I pick up are a light sweet and smoky, along with some garlic, and something comparable to thyme, coriander, or perhaps celery. The chewing brings on a flavor reminiscent of BBQ sauce, and some additional sweet. I can feel a light heat building up. The natural meat flavors come in towards latter part of chewing, tasting like steak cooked well done.

For being advertised as "Legendary BBQ", and described as starting off sweet and ending with a kick, I'd say that it holds up. It does have an overall BBQ-like taste, but more like something that was seared over a really hot grill, where some of the sauce blackens and crusts. It has a smoky character, and definitely starts off sweet and brings in a spicy kick later on. That spicy kick rates on my personal heat scale as "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a sweet barbecue sauce flavor, lightly spicy, lightly smoky, not necessarily tangy, or tomatoey, but certainly well seasoned. It's not over-the-top sweet, nor is it gooey, but it has a grilled, or a "charred" flavor.

The meat consistency is that of thick slabs of round cut across the grain. I see some fat and gristle, but I don't feel them in the chewing. I wouldn't call this "moist" as the company says, it's more on the dry side. It definitely is chewy, however. Overall, it's still easy to chew, and takes on a meaty, steak-like chewing texture.

Verdict

This Legendary Barbecue beef jerky from Crockett Creek manages to deliver on a barbecue sauce flavor, with a little of that flame-grilled, charred and smoky character, to effect a bit of realism in the overall taste. The barbecue flavorings are not heavy, and actually seem somewhat light, perhaps allowing the natural meat flavors to be noticed. While I felt this jerky is overall good, and quite snackable, it still didn't "wow" with its barbecue sauce. I'm sure Crockett Creek's barbecue sauce is indeed, "Legendary", but I've tried many more brands whose sauce is more tangy, lively, and bold. Crockett Creek, does however, score points with its thick sliced slabs, and meaty, steak-like chewing.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://www.crockettcreek.com/

Mike's Jerky recently introduced some new flavors, including this "Christmas". See my reviews of other flavors from Mike's Jerky.

Mike's Jerky is based out of Albuquerque, NM, owned and operated by Mike Grier. It's a New Mexico Style of jerky where its sliced thin, dried crisp, and crunches when you bite into it, yet still chewing like real meat.

This Christmas beef jerky is named as such because in New Mexico, people are often asked to choose between red or green chiles. When they want both, they answer with, "Christmas". And that's supposedly what this beef jerky is about.

Ingredients

Beef, Green Christmas Roast Chile, salt, modifed corn starch, garlic, sugar, parsley, extractives of garlic and carrot.

Taste

The first thing I taste is the roast chiles, followed by a light roast beef flavor, and a faint garlic salt. The chewing brings on more of the roast beef flavor, with a bit more salt and more of the roast chiles. There's a light bit of heat building up.

For being labeled, "Christmas", it seems to hold up well, considering I get a good dose of the roasted chile flavor, along with plenty of chile pieces stuck to the meat. While I can't say if this jerky is festive as Christmas lights or a wintery snow scene, the roasted chiles will definitely warm you up. On my personal heat scale, I'd rate this as "medium" (level 3 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of roasted beef, the kind you get sliced thin at a deli counter, but with a good deal of roasted Hatch green chile flavor. Add a light bit of salt and garlic, and that's largely the flavor.

The meat consistency looks great. Thin slabs of top round, lightly marbleized, are dehydrated to a dry crisp. Each bite produces an initial crunch, but chews down soft and feels comparable to deli roast beef. Chewing is very easy, but feels dry.

Verdict

This Christmas variety from Mike's Jerky is quite impressive with its delivery on roasted green chiles. It has that higher level of heat, more intense flavor, the kind that Hatch chiles are known for. I suppose this jerky might make a great snack on a cold wintery night, and is probably a great gift idea for the meat lover in your life, but it's certainly a year-round snack for its rich chile flavor. I love the extra-thin slices, and the crisp crunch when biting into a Mike's Jerky; it somehow makes snacking more addicting. That marbleized, roasted beef flavor is great, and I also like the ligher salt that Mike goes with. This Christmas variety is probably his best product to date.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://www.mikesjerky.com/

Keno's Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Gary Keeney, baesed out of Wichita Falls, TX. Established in 2010, Keeno's manufacturing process is state inspected, and the company runs an outlet store in the same building.

Keeney got into the jerky business while working at Dell Computers, where he sold bags of his homemade stuff to fellow employees. After getting laid off, he went into business for himself with the aid of a $17,000.00 prize for winning the IdeaWF competition hosted by Midwestern State University. Keeney also won the 2014 Peppers and More World Jerky Contest.

This "Kickin' T-Bone" jerky is described as Keeno's signature variety. It's said to be reminiscent of a perfectly prepared Texas T-Bone steak, as well as "soft and easy to chew. It practically melts in your mouth."

Ingredients

Beef, water, natural hickory wood smoke, vinegar, salt, onion, garlic, black pepper, dark red chili, hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, sugar, caramel color, molasses, papain, citric acid, crused red pepper, dill seed, MSG, paprika, cayenne pepper, and mustard seed.

Review

The first flavors I pick up are a salty soy sauce, mixed with smoke flavor and garlic. The vinegar starts to come through afterwards, along with touches of cayenne and dill. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, along with a bit more of the dill and vinegar. There's a light bit of heat going on in the background.

For being labeled, "Kickin' T-Bone" and described as being "reminiscent of a perfectly prepared Texas T-Bone steak", I'd say that it lives up to that billing. First of all, it's certainly kickin' because there's a lot of flavors going on, including touches of chile pepper heat. But it does have a steak-like chew and flavor, and definitely something more bold and seasoned, like you'd expect to find in a Texas steakhouse.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of salt, with a significant soy sauce, vinegar, and smoke flavor. The dill and garlic is noticeable, with touches of cayenne and black pepper. The natural meat flavors certainly make a showing in the background, and sometimes I find some fat flavors that mix in for a more satisfying experience. The level of heat rates on my personal scale as "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5).

The meat consistency comes in thin sliced slabs, rather soft and flexible, but dry. It chews soft, but is still "chewy". It feels quite meaty, though with some stringiness, but has a texture just like a well-done cooked steak.

Verdict

This Kickin' T-Bone beef jerky from Keeno's punches out of a lot bold flavors, just like what you'd expect to get from a jerky made in Texas. It lives up to its name of being "kickin'" for its light heat and variety of ingredients. It also chews and tastes like a well-done cooked T-bone steak. I find it too heavily salted for my liking, and defintely requires a beverage to wash it down with. Otherwise, I like the addition of dill and vinegar which makes this tangy, and I like the smoke flavor and touches of heat. It has nice steak-like chewing texture, but countered with a fair amount of stringiness.

Rating:

Average

Buy this online:

http://keenosjerky.com/

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/

Little Bit Jerky is a new brand that launched in February 2016, by Robert Helmcamp and Teresa Helmcamp, based out of Wichita Falls, TX.

Robert is a professional butcher of 22 years, learning the craft the "old school" way, and developed his own seasonings. Little Bit Jerky is made fresh daily from top round, and marinated for 18-24 hours.

This "Flaming Bit" is described by the company as a fajita variety, "has just the right amount of heat to kick the fajita flavor up a notch to perfection."

Ingredients

beef, water, natural hickory wood smoke, vinegar, salt, onion, garlic, black pepper, crushed dark red chili, hydrolyzed soy & corn protein, sugar, molasses, papain, citric acid, smoked paprika, oregano, white pepper, fenugreek, fennel, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, basil, rosemary, celery, thyme, marjoram, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, jalapeño powder

Review

The first flavors I taste is a salty seasoning blend, with noticeable oregano, chile pepper, black pepper, clove, and thyme. There's a light heat building up. The chewing brings on more of the seasoning blend, ushering in some garlic and onion, but also a soy sauce flavor, and touches of smoke.

For being described as a fajita beef jerky, with the word, "Flaming", it holds up well. It has a pronounced seasoning blend, noticeably complex in flavor, just like what you'd expect in beef fajitas or Tex Mex cuisine. It has some heat too, enough to notice right away, and just enough to generate a tingling on my scalp. I'd rate the heat as "medium" on my personal heat scale (level 3 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a salty, complex seasoning blend, with a savory soy sauce to balance it out. There's a natural meat flavor that sits behind it, tasting like a well-done cooked steak.

The meat consistency looks really good, mostly all meat, sliced into slabs of medium thickness. It's dry, but flexible, and manages to tear apart with light effort. The chewing starts out quite chewy and eventually softens up enough to feel like a well-done cooked steak.

Verdict

This "Flaming Bit" from Little Bit Jerky delivers a bold taste for folks who want a full flavor assault on their tongues. Think of spicy fajitas, or Tex-Mex cooking, but turn it up a notch because this is Texas-made jerky. I like the smoke flavor that lingers in the background, recreating the sizzling strips of beef on a plate of fajitas. I also like the natural meat flavors and the steak-like chewing texture. The higher saltiness in this jerky tends to overwhelm me, however, requiring swigs of water in between swallows.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://littlebitjerky.com/

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

According to Zimmerman, the name originated from his kids who used to collect "lucky rocks" when he took them out on hikes. He started making jerky at home and collected compliments from friends, prompting him to start a business. In 2013, his recipe won top prize at a national beef jerky contest.

Lucky Rock Beef Jerky is made from USDA beef and combined with a 5 sauce blend, seasoned to perfection, with no preservatives.

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 are a salty seasoning blend of black pepper, garlic, onion, and coriander seed. The chewing brings on more seasoning complexity, with touches of the tomato sauce, and faint notes of raisin.

What strikes me immediately with Lucky Rock Beef Jerky is a bold, strong flavor that hits right away, mostly through the seasoning blend. The saltiness feels high, even though the sodium content on the nutrition label shows 230mg per ounce, relatively low compared to major brands.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a salty seasoning blend, of garlic, onion, black pepper, and coriander seed, but backed up with a marinade of light soy sauce, touches of tomato, and hints of raisin. There's even a light bit of spiciness, which feels hotter than it really is due to the strong saltiness.

The meat consistency seems good overall. It's thin sliced slabs, and well marbled, with a dry feel and touch. They're still flexible, however, and generate a fair amount of chewiness. They chew quite meaty, but not exactly to the point of a steak. It tends to remain chewy.

Verdict

Lucky Rock Beef Jerky awakens the taste buds with a bold seasoning blend much like a Montreal steak. I like the coriander seed flavor, and I really like the unique marinade with its subtle tomato and raisin overtones. Even the meat consistency and chewing texture is good. It's the higher saltiness that wears me out, even though the Nutrition Facts label indicates a lower sodium content. But knowing there's a lot of folks who crave that salty seasoning flavor, they'll want to try Lucky Rock's unique blend of spices contrasted against its also-unique marinade.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.luckyrockbeefjerky.com/

How creative are you with a camera and beef jerky?

Crazy Horse Jerky wants cool, imaginative photos of their jerky, taken by YOU!

Contest Rules...

Contest will start May 16th and run till June 15th.
Email them your most CREATIVE picture with their jerky at info@crazyhorsejerky.com.
It could be you, a family member or a coworker.
Crazy Horse Jerky will post all the entries on June 16th to their Facebook account.
Crazy Horse Jerky will include your first name under your picture so your friends and family can vote.
Have all your friends and family like them on Facebook and vote for your picture to win.
The picture with the most likes will win.
Winner will be chosen on June 30th.

1st Prize is 12 oz Bacon, 1 LB beef sampler and 1/4 Lb of each of our Chicken jerky flavors.
$90.00 value

2nd Place is 3 oz Bacon, 1/2 Lb Beef Sampler and 2 ounces of each of our Chicken Jerky
$45.00 value

Crazy Horse Jekry is running a special on the 1 Lb Sampler till May 18th. $26.99

So stock up and get snapping. We can't wait to see your awesome pictures!!!

Visit Crazy Horse Jerky online at...
http://www.crazyhorsejerky.com

The newest flavor from Lawless Jerky is this Pork BBQ Spare Rib. See our reviews of other Lawless Jerky flavors here.

Lawless Jerky is a new brand created by a licensed attorney named Matthew Tolnick of Santa Monica, CA. Making jerky started from his days in college when he and his fraternity friends needed sustenance through long evenings of studying. But today, Lawless Jerky has grown into a thriving business and Tolnick has moved full steam ahead with it, producing his jerky in a USDA inspected facility.

This Pork BBQ Spare Rib jerky is the first non-beef product from Lawless.

Ingredients

Pork, tamari sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, sun-dried tomato, cinnamon, onion, hot chile powder, cloves, black pepper, star anise

Review

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a grilled pork flavor, with a light BBQ and shades of smoke. There's hints of the ketchup and apple cider vinegar, a light sweetness, and touches of clove.

For being labeled as "Pork BBQ Spare Rib" it certainly holds up well. It definitely has a BBQ flavor, but more of the dry-rubbed Memphis style, than the sweet and saucy St. Louis style. But it brings in the pork spare ribs you tend to get from a Chinese restaurant, with it's tomatoey flavor, the touches of smoke, and the spicy, flowery, clove.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile of this jerky is a Chinese-style BBQ pork flavor, with more emphasis on tomato and spice. It's lightly sweet and smoky, and brings out some of the natural pork flavors. After eating several pieces, there is a mild peppery aftertaste building.

The meat consistency looks to be all meat, with only a few small spots of fat visible. Otherwise, it chews very tender and somewhat moist. It has a meaty feel overall, with some more soft than others.

Verdict

This Pork BBQ Spare Rib jerky from Lawless Jerky does a pretty good job of mimicking the flavor of Chinese-style spare ribs with its lightly spicy, lightly sweet tomato flavor. Even though Lawless doesn't mention the use of smoke or liquid smoke, there's shades of smoke flavor that come through, very comparable to what you'd taste from a Chinese-style BBQ. But it's tiny touches that I like the best in this jerky, like the clove, the tomato, the smoke, all of which make small contributions, but enough to recreate the flavor and experience of eating Chinese-style BBQ pork spare ribs.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://www.lawlessjerky.com

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky is a brand owned by John Bailey, based out of Salinas, CA. The brand has been around since 1999.

Manufactured in their very own USDA inspected facility, Beefy Boys is made from top round sourced from a supplier located 120 miles from their plant, then marinated and cooked using an old family recipe.

This Hot Peppered variety is described by the company as being made with their "original secret family marinade", but completely covered with smoking hot red chile peppers. They warn that you, "better have a big ice cold beverage with you at all times when eating this fireball!"

Ingredients

Beef, water, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, seasoned salt, spices, and other flavorings.

Review

The first flavors that I pick up is seasoned salt that slowly clarifies itself as soy sauce, along with a touch of garlic. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, with a light chile pepper flavor. There's a light bit of heat building up.

For being marketed as, "Hot Peppered", it seems to hold up well. The spiciness rates on my personal heat scale as "medium" (level 3 out of 5). There's enough red chile flakes on these pieces, that I get a fair amount of chile pepper flavor.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a light soy sauce, seasoned up with garlic and other spices. The red chile pepper adds a noticeable flavor with a medium level of heat. The natural meat flavors are also noticeable in the background.

The meat consitency looks excellent. Seemingly all meat, sliced into slabs that rip apart from the grain easily, and chew down with a fair amount of ease. It's mostly dry, but still tender, and by the time it chews down, takes on a steak-like texture. I didn't find any stringiness or anything unchewable.

Verdict

This Hot Peppered Beef Jerky from Beefy Boys is a delight for those who love red chile peppers. You get lots of the spice layered on these pieces, enough to effect a noticeable flavor. If you're not used to heat, you could definitely get smoked by this. But if you're a chile pepper aficionado, you'll find that it has just enough heat to keep you satisfied without distracting your attention on the jerky as a whole. This jerky manages to deliver the natural meat flavors, and a meaty, steak-like chewing texture. If you like old fashioned slab-style jerky with some kick to it, you'll love this variety from Beefy Boys.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.ourlocale.org/

Country Archer Jerky - Mango Habanero

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

Ria's Roadkill Jerky - Turkey

Jedidiah's Jerky - Beef Brisket Spicy Memphis Style BBQ

California Wine Country Jerky - Hot Cabernet

Lehigh Biltong

Crockett Creek Beef Jerky - Original

Crazy Horse Jerky - Million Dollar Bacon Jerky

Little Bit Jerky - Twisted Bit

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky - Peppered

Jedidiah's Beef Jerky - Cowboy

Crockett Creek Beef Jerky - Legendary Barbecue

Mike's Jerky - Christmas

Keno's Beef Jerky - Kickin' T-Bone

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

Little Bit Jerky - Flaming Bit

Lucky Rock Beef Jerky

Creative Jerky Photo Contest!

Contest Rules...

Lawless Jerky - Pork BBQ Spare Rib

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky - Hot Peppered