Beef Jerky Reviews

Jerky by Art was established by Arthur Sandoval in 2004, based out of Albuquerque, NM.

As an iron worker, Art started making carne seca (Mexican-style jerky) at home for his own pleasure. He would take some to work and sell it to co-workers. He was selling so much of it, that he bought more dehydrators. Before he knew it, he was producing jerky all day and night. And thus became, Jerky by Art.

This Garlic variety is said to be a favorite among the company's customers.

Ingredients

Beef, minced garlic, garlic salt

Review

The first flavor I pick up is a light salt, with touches of garlic. The chewing brings on a bit more salt and garlic, with some natural meat flavors.

For being sold as a, "Garlic" variety, it has a light garlic flavor, with lots of minced garlic bits noticeable.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a lightly salted, natural meat flavor. It's a cleaner, meat flavor, almost like that of deli roasted beef, with little else for flavor aside from a wisp of salt and a touch of garlic.

The meat consistency seems excellent, lightly marbleized with very little fat. It's dry, with a light crunch, but not tough. It actually breaks apart and chews somewhat easily. It's very much like other jerky brands from New Mexico, highly dry, lightly crunchy, yet still chews down to a steak-like texture.

Verdict

This Garlic beef jerky from Jerky by Art seems very simple, yet manages to create a lot of satisfaction. It mostly comes from the natural meat flavors, the steak-like chewing, and the light crunch. It's low sodium and seasonings seems to give this jerky a cleaner flavor, yet sill generates just enough garlic to break the monotony. Otherwise, expect a light, clean tasting jerky, that's mild enough for all audiences, yet still sophisticated through its simplicity.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.jerkybyart.com/

Jerky by Art was established by Arthur Sandoval in 2004, based out of Albuquerque, NM.

As an iron worker, Art started making carne seca (Mexican-style jerky) at home for his own pleasure. He would take some to work and sell it to co-workers. He was selling so much of it, that he bought more dehydrators. Before he knew it, he was producing jerky all day and night. And thus became, Jerky by Art.

This Green Chile variety is another favorite among the company's customers.

Ingredients

Beef, fajita sauce, water, green chili

Review

The first flavor I pick up is a salty, spicy, seasoning, with a noticeable green chile. The chewing brings on a bit more of the seasoning with a light bit of natural meat flavor.

For being marketed as, "Green Chile", it has a light bit of green chile flavor, but tends to become distracted by the seasoning.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a lightly spicy seasoning, with touches of green chile flavor, a moderate saltiness, and some natural meat flavors. It's still mild enough, however, that it's suitable for most audiences. The natural meat flavor is comparable to deli-sliced roast beef.

The meat consistency seems excellent, lightly marbleized with very little fat. It's dry, with a light crunch, but not tough. It actually breaks apart and chews somewhat easily. It's very much like other jerky brands from New Mexico, highly dry, lightly crunchy, yet still chews down to a steak-like texture.

Verdict

This Green Chile beef jerky from Jerky by Art has a satisfying, seasoning flavor, with touches of green chile. It's lightly spicy, and moderately salty, and delivers a fair amount of natural meat flavor. The green chile flavor is light, however, and is overshadowed by the other seasonings. Considering this jerky is made in New Mexico, which famed for its green chiles, I had hoped for more of that flavor. Otherwise, on its own merits, it's still a satisfying jerky with an addictive crunch and a meaty, steak-like chewing. But it's really more of a lightly spicy jerky than a green chile-focused jerky.

Rating:

Average

Buy this online:

http://www.jerkybyart.com/

Two Chicks Beef Jerky is a brand of Two Chicks Specialty Goods, LLC, based out of San Rafael, CA. It was started by two women, Shannon and Breelyn, who embarked on a 4 1/2 month long road trip back in 2012, and stocked themselves up on homemade jerky.

Along the way, people they met tried their jerky and liked it enough to recommend they start a business. So when they returned home, they did just that. Two Chicks Beef Jerky has now been in operation a little over a year now, and is now carried in over 20 retail locations in Northern California.

The company claims, "Sometimes it is... all about the meat", referencing their reliance on grass-fed meat, locally sourced, with no preservatives, antibiotics, or added hormones. It's also marketed as gluten-free, and uses honey instead of refined sugar.

Ingredients

Beef, gluten-free Tamari, lemon juice, granulated honey, garlic powder, spices

Review

The first flavors I pick up are a light smoke, with a lightly salty, soy sauce. The chewing brings on some black pepper and garlic, along with an increased salt. There's a natural meat flavor that comes in later.

Considering that this jerky is claimed to be "...all about the meat", it does have a natural meat flavor that has a steak-like taste. It does have a clean, natural flavor in that I don't taste any of the faint "tinny" preservatives, or anything cured.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a lightly smoky, natural meat flavor seasoned with soy sauce, a fair amount of black pepper, and a light garlic. The lemon juice mentioned in the ingredients is hard to detect, and the honey is not identified at all.

The meat consistency has light bits of fat seen on some pieces, but otherwise mostly all meat. It's somewhat tender and moist, being easy to chew and bite off. It actually has a somewhat mushy chewing texture, though maintaining just enough meaty character. It doesn't really chew like real steak, however.

Verdict

This Classic variety from Two Chicks Beef Jerky manages to do a good job of bringing out the natural meat flavor, delivering the rich, unadulterated taste you'd expect from purely natural, grass-fed beef. It also goes on to create a satisfying, yet simple seasoning with a light bit of smokiness. For those who want to get close to Nature as possible in a dried meat snack, Two Chicks Beef Jerky does an excellent job.

This jerky, however, doesn't quite chew like real steak, but tends to feel mushy, though certainly soft and tender. In addition, the flavor is the usual soy sauce, black pepper, and garlic, nothing new or creative. While it's still satisfying seasoning, and while the company intended to emphasize the meat, it doesn't do much to distance itself from the bell curve. Otherwise, it's primary success is that of a purely natural, grass-fed beef jerky that delivers a lot of natural meat flavor.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.twochicksbeefjerky.com/

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Little Bit Jerky has a couple new flavors out, including this "Spiked Cocoa Bit".

The "Little Bit Jerky" brand 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 "Spiked Cocoa Bit" is described by the company as being, "marinated in chocolate and a little jalapeno", going on to say that it gives you a sweet and spicy taste.

Ingredients

Beef, water, natural hickory wood smoke, vinegar, salt, caramel color, molasses, papain, citric acid, black pepper, fructose corn syrup, coca sugar, mono and diglycerides, xanthan, artificial flavor, paprika, chili pepper, onion powder, mustard, jalapeno.

Review

The first flavors I taste is a light smokiness with some seasoned salt. I can pick up the chili pepper and paprika. A light bit of heat starts to build. The chewing brings on some vinegar and natural meat flavors. Meanwhile, the salt picks up, as does the heat.

For having been marinated in chocolate and jalapeno, it seems to hold up. I do taste overtones of chocolate in this, more as cacao rather than a milk chocolate bar. It's comparable to the chocolate one might taste in Mole Sauce. The jalapeno is more prominent, creating a light flavor but a more noticeable heat. I'd rate the heat as "medium" (level 3 out of 5) on my personal heat scale.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty, seasoning blend of paprika, onion, jalapeno, and chili pepper, flanked with light tangy vinegar, and a woody smoke flavor. Think of it more as a salty, spicy mole sauce marinade.

The meat consistency looks really good, mostly all meat, sliced into slabs of medium thickness. I found a fair amount of stringiness in the chewing. 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 Spiked Cocoa Bit from Little Bit Jerky is reminds me of strips of beef marinaded in mole sauce, but a little more heavy on the jalapeno flavor and heat, and a little smoky from the hickory wood and paprika. It's truly a Tex-Mex fusion of smoked beef jerky with south-of-the-border flavors. It's not chocolatey sweet, but more like uses cacao. While this jerky tends to be salty, I still like the smoky profile, the jalapeno and tangy vinegar, and the steak-like chewing. This jerky offers some good complexity for aficionados that want intellectual snacking.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

https://littlebitjerky.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/

Dried and True recently updated it's brand with new packaging and revised recipes. Included here is their new recipe for their Original variety (See our review of their previous Original variety)

Founded in Venice CA in 2012, by a local named Matt Lauster, Dried and True Beef Jerky sought to change to people's taste buds and perception of what beef jerky could taste like. After refining his product by selling at local farmer's markets and the LA food festival scene, so many customers loved it, encouraging him to go full steam ahead into the jerky industry. Matt uses exclusively California raised beef without chemical preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, MSG or high fructose corn syrup.

This Original variety is said to be their interpretation of classic jerky. Matt claims it's made from classic top round cut of beef and gives off a smoky flavor.

Ingredients: Beef, soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, garlic powder, liquid smoke, organic worcestershire sauce, fine pepper

Review

The first flavors I pick up are a light sweet and a light worcestershire. A noticeable soy sauce comes in, along with touches of black pepper. The chewing brings on a steak flavor with touches of garlic and onion.

For being the company's flagship offering, it strikes a good balance between the soy sauce and worcestershire marinades, with modest seasonings that don't overpower the palate. It still has the same overall flavor that the previous Original variety had, but now has an excellent natural meat flavor, more like a pan-fried pound steak, with bits of fat mixed in.

The primary taste profile is that of a light soy sauce and worcestershire marinade, gently sweetened, with light seasonings, namely black pepper and garlic, laid over a significant steak flavor.

The meat consistency is greatly improved from the previous recipe. This feels much more meaty, more tender, and a little more moist than before. It actually chews like real pieces of steak, not the pasty, mushy texture as before. Overall, it's moderately easy to chew, and generates a sense of being natural, not molecularly altered.

Verdict

This revised recipe from Dried and True is certainly a great improvement over the previous. I really love the natural meat flavor, recreating the kind of seasoned steak my mom would fry in a pan. It still focuses on a light blend of soy sauce and worcestershire, along with touches of sweet, black pepper, and garlic. But the steak flavor really gives this jerky a great foundation that the previous recipe lacked. This actually tastes like real beef jerky. The chewing texture is greatly improved as well. This chews like a genuine piece of steak, and gave me the sense of eating natural beef, and not something modified by meat-doctors and flavor-scientists.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.driedandtruebeefjerky.com/

Note: Lawless Jerky is a sponsor of this website, but has no effect on our ratings and reviews.

Among the newest flavors from Lawless Jerky is this Mango Habanero beef jerky. See our other reviews of Lawless Jerky.

Lawless Jerky is a brand owned and operated by Lawless Jerky, LLC based out of Santa Monica, CA. It was started by Matthew Tolnick, a former attorney who held a not-so-secret passion for making chewy chunks of dehydrated beef. After a stint as a legal counselor, he decided to throw his hat into the jerky industry and start his own business.

This Mango Habanero variety is described by the company as a "one-two punch of heat and sweet", going on to say it's "fruity from natural mango flavors", and "sweet from brown sugar", and "spicy from bright orange habanero peppers".

Ingredients

100% Grass-fed beef, brown sugar, rice vinegar, salt, sun-dried tomato, habanero pepper, garlic, onion, mango amchur, mango flavor.

Review

The first flavors that hit the palate is a sweetness, a light fruity character, followed by a moderate burn. The chewing brings on a little of the habanero flavor, a stronger mango, and a light natural meat flavor.

For being labeled as "Mango Habanero" it seems to hold up well. I do get a noticeable mango flavor along with a fair amount of sweetness. But I also pick up the habanero in both flavor and heat. Overall it's an equal balance of mango and habanero pepper.

The heat remains at a moderate level. I'd rank it on my personal heat scale as "medium" (level 3 out of 5). It's enough burn to warm up the blood and produce faint moisture on the scalp, but not hot enough to make me stop and pour a glass of milk.

Otherwise, the flavors that define this jerky starts mostly with a sweet mango. The heat of the habanero comes in soon, and then the habanero flavor. It's lightly tangy in the chewing, and lightly salty with some savory garlic/onion in the background. But otherwise, the mango and habanero get most of the attention.

The meat consistency looks great, mostly all meat with little visible signs of fat. Stringiness is at a minimum. It has the appearance of being tenderized through some kind of pounding, with slice marks along the surface. It also chews like pound steak. It chews easily, with a light chewiness, and varies between semi-moist to dry.

Verdict: This Mango Habanero beef jerky from Lawless Jerky does a great job of giving out mango and habanero flavors, with a moderate level of heat. Having tried other brands of mango habanero jerky, Lawless gives out far more mango flavor, and I found myself rather impressed with it. It also has a fresh, natural character; it doesn't taste gummed up, doctored up, or altered up. I like the light tangy flavors, and I think the level of heat is just right for a habanero jerky.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://lawlessjerky.com/

Little Bit Jerky has a couple new flavors out, including this "Bad Azz Bit".

The "Little Bit Jerky" brand 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 "Bad Azz Bit" is described by the company as being, "A perfectly cooked steak flavor infused with Extreme Heat from a combination of peppers."

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, red pepper, jalapeno, cayenne, habanero

Review

The first flavors I taste is a salty seasoning of garlic and black pepper. There's a light touch of smoke, while the heat builds up slowly. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, but also leads in light vinegar, and shades of chile peppers.

For being marketed as, "perfectly cooked steak" and, "extreme heat", it holds up well. It has a seasoned, grilled steak flavor, anchored by its natural meat flavors. It's also "hot", ranking on my personal heat scale as a level 5 out of 5. It's not the intense, seething, firestorm that chile pepper aficionados seek out, but it still leaves a burn on my tongue and beads of sweat on my scalp.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a salty, seasoning blend of garlic, black pepper and onion, along with a light tangy vinegar and touches of smokiness, over a grilled, steak flavor. There's some light chile pepper flavor, but enough to bring out the unique profiles of jalapeno and habanero. It's largely the heat that stems from the chile pepper ingredients.

The meat consistency looks really good, mostly all meat, sliced into slabs of medium thickness. I found a fair amount of stringiness in the chewing. 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 Bad Azz Bit from Little Bit Jerky does a great job of recreating the taste of a well-seasoned, marinated steak, boosted with the strong heat of chile peppers. It doesn't give off enough jalapeno and/or habanero flavor to go along with their intense burns, nor provide any of the endorphic reward that one gets from indulging on such capiscum. In a way, it's more of a masochistic treat for those want to snack on good jerky and punish their palates at the same time. Overall, it is still great beef chewing experience, with loads of flavor, though salty, but every bit as Texas as one might expect.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://littlebitjerky.com/

Jeff's Famous Jerky has a new beef jerky variety out called, "Korean Barbeque". It also comes in their new packaging and branding. Read our previous reviews of Jeff's Famous Jerky.

Jeff's Famous Jerky officially opened for business in 2010 and is owned and operated by Jeff's Famous Foods, Inc., led by founder Jeff Richards and CFO Mike Aggarwal, out of Mission Viejo, CA. The company offers numerous flavors of jerky, all hormone-free, American beef (or bacon), without added MSG or preservatives.

This Korean Barbecue is stamped, "Sweet & Smoky", and described as having the, "distinctive taste of Korean Barbeque", made with fresh garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, black pepper, and natural smoke.

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, cane sugar, brown sugar, sesame oil, fresh garlic, granulated garlic, granulated onion, green onion flakes, black pepper, natural smoke flavoring, ground ginger, sesame seeds

Review

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a significant sweetness with soy sauce, garlic and onion seasonings. There's a touch of sesame noted. The chewing brings on the same flavors with a bit more definition, but I can also get a light black pepper and shades of that ginger.

For being marketed as Korean Barbeque, and stamped as "Sweet & Smoky", it seems to hold up well. It has the dominant sweet I've found in most teriyaki sauces used in Korean Barbeque restaurants, and it also has the sesame flavor found in Korean Bulgogi. But if you didn't know this was marketed as Korean Barbeque, you might easily conclude this is Teriyaki. The smoky flavor is very light, just barely registering on my palate, and tasting more like the smokiness that comes from a wok.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of well-sweetened soy sauce, comparable to teriyaki, but with a clearly noticeable sesame flavor, and a garlic & onion seasoning. The saltiness is quite noticeable, though not necessarily high.

The meat consistency and chewing texture is excellent. Considering this is made from brisket, it's feels a lot less stringy. It's very tender and chews with minimal effort. It's lightly moist, and bursts with flavor. The texture is that of soft steak.

Verdict

This Korean Barbeque from Jeff's Famous Jerky is great departure for teriyaki lovers because it adds a nice sesame flavor with a bit more seasonings, and hints of smokiness. The tender, moist chewing is a great compliment to the ingredients because this jerky just bursts with flavor. Overall, it's a very addictive jerky that manages to win on both flavor and chewing.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

http://www.jeffsfamousjerky.com/

We reviewed Two Brothers Jerky a couple years ago, but they're back with revised recipes, new flavors, and new packaging.

The brand is the collaborative effort of two brothers separated at birth, Paul Brock and Eddie Wales. After growing up never knowing about the other, they one discovered they each had a brother. After they reunited, they took a trip out to a lake and realized they both loved beef jerky, and both had this crazy entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, Two Brothers Jerky was born. Now based out of both Durham, NC and Columbia, SC, Two Brothers Jerky features North Carolina grass fed, grass-finished beef, and made with no nitrates.

This "Bull City Original" (see previous review) is named for Brock's hometown of Durham, NC, and is said to, "capture the vibrancy and smoky flavor of Durham, North Carolina".

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, water, lime juice, dried garlic, dried onion, red chili flakes, citric acid, honey, lime oil.

Review

The first thing I taste is a light soy sauce, with faint touches of sweet, and bits of garlic and onion. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, much like a grilled steak, with a light tanginess, and a faint fruity note.

Compared the original recipe, the soy sauce is toned down, as is the smokiness, allowing the natural meat flavors to come out more. It still has the tangy lime flavor, but is also toned down. It still effectively has the same overall taste profile as before, but the ingredients are taken down a couple notches, while the steak flavor is more noticeable.

And overall, that changes the taste profile. It's now more of a grilled steak flavor, marinated in soy sauce, but doctored up with some seasonings and citrusy lime. In some regards, it's also comparable to grilled steak fajitas, or carne asada. The saltiness tastes moderate to high.

The meat consistency seems different, however. It's still has a steak-like chewing, but this is more chewy than before, more flexible to the touch, and nothing like the dry, woody feel as before.

Verdict

This revised recipe of Bull City Original from Two Brothers Jerky does seem like an improvement, in both flavor and chewing. I like the more noticeable natural meat flavor, and the toned down soy sauce. Combined with the more flexible meat consistency, this tends to give off more of a steak-like experience than before, and it has more of an old fashioned quality. This is kind of jerky you'd love to have by a campfire with a bottle of homebrew and the sound of crickets.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://www.twobrothersjerky.com/

We reviewed Two Brothers Jerky a couple years ago, but they're back with a new recipe.

The brand is the collaborative effort of two brothers separated at birth, Paul Brock and Eddie Wales. After growing up never knowing about the other, they one discovered they each had a brother. After they reunited, they took a trip out to a lake and realized they both loved beef jerky, and both had this crazy entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, Two Brothers Jerky was born. Now based out of both Durham, NC and Columbia, SC, Two Brothers Jerky features North Carolina grass fed, grass-finished beef, and made with no nitrates.

This "Sweet Ginger Teriyaki" is described as, "sweet and tangy", and claims to have, "the whole family clamoring for more", being made with fresh ginger as the star ingredient, along with brown sugar and soy.

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, juiced ginger, pineapple juice, dried garlic, citric acid, xanthan gum.

Review

The first thing I taste is a salty, soy sauce, but with a noticeable ginger right away. The chewing brings on a light tanginess with shades of fruity flavors. The ginger still remains throughout the chewing, while the natural meat flavors come later.

As for being marketed as, "Sweet Ginger Teriyaki", it holds up somewhat. It definitely has the ginger component, while the sweet part is light. The teriyaki aspect is not quite convincing as a Japanese-style teriyaki, namely the sweet is too light for what we Americans look for in teriyaki. But also, there isn't that fermented quality that true Japanese teriyaki has.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a light soy sauce base with a noticeable ginger background, along with a moderate saltiness, and a natural meat flavor tasting like a well-done cooked steak. There's a touch of fruity tanginess in the chewing.

The meat consistency looks rather good. The pieces have a steak-like chewing, but tend to take on a mushy quality when chewed down soft. This jerky mostly tender overall, but retaining just enough chewiness to give you what you want in a dried meat snack.

Verdict

This Sweet Ginger Teriyaki delivers enough ginger flavor throughout the chewing to give those spicy rhizome lovers something to savor in a dried meat snacking experience. While I didn't find enough sweetness to justify the product name, and while I thought the teriyaki wasn't quite to my expectations, I still found this snackable in its own right. Overall, it's a light tasting jerky that lets you enjoy the ginger and the natural meat flavors, while offering a tender, meaty chew.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

https://www.twobrothersjerky.com/

Grandpa's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Jacob Piercy, based out of Fishers, Indiana. Piercy remembers being a kid and watching his grandfather hanging deer meat for jerky. Eventually, his grandfather handed down the recipe and process.

Today, Piercy sells packages of Grandpa's Beef Jerky at farmers markets across Indiana and online too, allowing jerky fans across the USA to enjoy a family legacy.

This "Original Hickory" is said to be Grandpa's most requested variety, and is made from top-round-steak. It's marked with a heat-rating of "Medium".

Ingredients

Beef, seasoning, water, cayenne pepper, dextrose, natural smoke flavor, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

Review

The first thing I taste right away is a smokiness, followed by a light salt and touches of sweet. The chewing brings on more hickory smoke flavor, along with the seasoning blend, consisting of salt, garlic, and touch of black pepper. There's a wee bit of natural meat flavor that comes in later, along with a low-level spiciness.

As far as being labeled "Hickory" and a heat-level of "Medium", it seems to be stand up well. It definitely has a noticeable hickory smokiness throughout the chewing, while the level of heat is low, perhaps "Mild Medium" on my heat scale (level of 2 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a hickory smoke-laced seasoning blend more weighted on the saltiness. There are swashes of garlic, onion, and cayenne pepper.

The meat consistency is chopped and formed beef, shaped into bite-sized strips. It seems to have good jerky chewiness without being tough, and no noticeable bits of bone or gristle. Once chewed down soft, they take on a meaty texture, almost steak-like. They handle cleanly.

Verdict

This Original Hickory variety from Grandpa's Beef Jerky bursts with savory seasonings and smoky hickory, living up to its flavor name. I like the bite sized pieces for snacking, and I like the meaty, almost steak-like chewing texture. It has an old fashioned taste, perhaps supportive of the "Grandpa's" brand name, reminding me of jerky sold in jars in country stores. It's a very addictive jerky. In comparison to hundreds other brands of Original variety I've reviewed, it does a great job of differentiating itself. And for those discriminating jerky fans who look down on chopped-and-formed meat, this one might change your mind.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://grandpasjerky.net/

We reviewed Two Brothers Jerky a couple years ago, but they're back with revised recipes, new flavors, and new packaging.

The brand is the collaborative effort of two brothers separated at birth, Paul Brock and Eddie Wales. After growing up never knowing about the other, they one discovered they each had a brother. After they reunited, they took a trip out to a lake and realized they both loved beef jerky, and both had this crazy entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, Two Brothers Jerky was born. Now based out of both Durham, NC and Columbia, SC, Two Brothers Jerky features North Carolina grass fed, grass-finished beef, and made with no nitrates.

This "Famously Hot" (see previous review) is named for Wales' hometown of Columbia, SC, which is "Famously Hot". The company says, "The first bite delivers a deep intensity of crushed red peppers, citrus and garlic with a slow building heat that will make want to grab another piece."

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, water, lime juice, red chili flakes, dried garlic, dried onion, citric acid, honey, lime oil.

Review

The first thing I taste is a salty seasoning blend of garlic and onion, but with a light tangy wisp of citrus. The chewing brings on the soy sauce flavor, along with a touch of chile pepper. There's a light bit of heat building, while the natural meat flavors come through.

As for being marketed as "Hot", it certainly has a little bit of heat, but not quite enough for a spicy food lover such as I. If you happen to be someone with a sensitive palate, perhaps this would be considered hot. But then again, I doubt any such persons would bother to buy something on this side of the spectrum. So, if this jerky was meant for hot food lovers and chile heads, I don't think it delivers on its labeled promise.

I'd rate the heat as "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5), which is down a level from the previous recipe.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty seasoning blend of garlic and onion, with a noticeable soy sauce and a light tangy citrus. The natural meat flavors come in during the chewing, while a light chile pepper flavor adds to the mix.

The meat consistency seems different from the previous recipe. This meat is has a tender feel, though dry, but still chewy. It's far different than the dry, woody feel as before. I do find some pieces with significant chunks of fat. Overall, it's very meaty and chews down to a steak-like texture.

Verdict

This revised recipe of Famously Hot from Two Brothers Jerky does seem like an improvement in both flavor and chewing. The natural meat flavor comes out more in this, and I also prefer the garlic and onion seasoning and the light tangy citrus. While it's not really all that hot, there's still "some" heat, and I think chile heads will enjoy the light chile pepper flavor that comes out. Even the meat consistency and chewing texture seems improved. I think this Famousl Hot variety is Two Brothers' best flavor.

Rating:

Best

Buy this online:

https://www.twobrothersjerky.com/

Jerky Dynasty is a brand started by Chris Miller. It actually started a few years ago as an online retailer of jerky, offering brands like Lawless Jerky, Jeff's Famous Jerky, and others. Recently, the company launched its own line of jerky aptly named, "Jerky Dynasty".

According to Chris, Jerky Dynasty is "old fashioned", clarifying that it's hand cut, hung in a smoke house, with no liquid smoke.

This Original variety is described simply as, "mouth-watering good and as authentic as it gets."

Ingredients

Beef, water, sugar, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, worcestershire sauce powder, garlic powder, onion powder, flavoring, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, granulated garlic, black pepper, cure salt, corn syrup solids.

Review

The first flavors that come to me are a light smokiness and light salt, followed up by shades of garlic. The chewing brings on more of the smoke, with an increased salt and garlic, but also a noticeable onion. I can also pick up an unmistakable black pepper in the background. The worcestershire ingredient is quite light.

As far as its claims of being "old fashioned", and "as authentic as it gets", it's actually quite on the mark. This really does have an old-fashioned flavor character marked by the smokiness, black pepper, garlic, and onion. Even the word "authentic" feels supported because of the real wood smoke flavor and its meaty, steak-like chewing texture.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of real wood smoke, flanked by a traditional seasoning blend of salt, black pepper, garlic, and onion. There's also light bits of flavoring coming from the worcestershire. Despite the sugar ingredient, it doesn't taste sweet at all.

The meat consistency looks excellent. Practically all meat, mostly tender, soft, yet retaining some chewiness. It's very meaty, practically a steak-like chewing texture.

Verdict

This Original beef jerky from Jerky Dynasty has a simple and old fashioned quality that brings about the sense of country-living and an era gone-by. It generated a lot of snackability for me due to its real wood smoke flavor, and its excellent meat consistency and chewing texture. The saltiness tastes high, though the sodium content on the nutrition label suggests it's much lower. Otherwise, each piece I ate seemed to bring out the wood chopper in me, and before too long I was having thoughts of growing out my beard. You may be too.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.jerkydynasty.com/

Grandpa's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Jacob Piercy, based out of Fishers, Indiana. Piercy remembers being a kid and watching his grandfather hanging deer meat for jerky. Eventually, his grandfather handed down the recipe and process.

Today, Piercy sells packages of Grandpa's Beef Jerky at farmers markets across Indiana and online too, allowing jerky fans across the USA to enjoy a family legacy.

This "Sweet Teriyaki" is described as, "...smoky, salty and sweet in the best way", and is marked as, "Mild".

Ingredients

Beef, seasoning (sugar, salt, onion & garlic powder, molasses granules, monosodium glutamate, spices (with jalapeno), paprika, citric acid, spice extractives, silicon dioxide and soybean oil), water, cayenne pepper, dextrose, salt, natural smoke flavor, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

Review

The first thing I taste right away is a light sweet and bit of oiliness. The chewing brings on some salt, along with touches of onion and garlic, and a faint spiciness.

For being labeled as, "Sweet Teriyaki", it doesn't hold up. The sweetness is too light for something that bills itself as "Sweet", and the teriayki flavor doesn't really strike me as Japanese-style teriyaki. I don't pick up the soy sauce typically found in Teriyaki, nor the ginger, or the rice wine.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a moderately salted seasoning of onion and garlic, lightly sweet, with touches of spiciness. There's a faint natural meat flavor that comes in late.

The meat consistency is chopped and formed beef, shaped into bite-sized strips. This feels more soft than the company's Original variety, and less meaty in the chew. It's like a more dry summer sausage. It also handles a bit more oily.

Verdict

This "Sweet Teriyaki" variety from Grandpa's Beef Jerky didn't really give me the higher level of sweetness I had expected from its namesake, and didn't quite give me the Japanese-style Teriyaki I've come to expect. But on its own merits, it still generates a moderate snackability for its mild onion and garlic flavor, and may be preferable for those who want a softer, easier chew.

Rating:

Average

Buy this online:

http://grandpasjerky.net/

Jerky Dynasty is a brand started by Chris Miller. It actually started a few years ago as an online retailer of jerky, offering brands like Lawless Jerky, Jeff's Famous Jerky, and others. Recently, the company launched its own line of jerky aptly named, "Jerky Dynasty".

According to Chris, Jerky Dynasty is "old fashioned", clarifying that it's hand cut, hung in a smoke house, with no liquid smoke.

This Black Pepper variety is described by the company simply as, "mouth-watering good".

Ingredients

Beef, water, sugar, salt, spices, hydrolyzed soy protein, maltodextrin, dehydrated garlic, oleoresin, black pepper, cure salt, corn syrup solids.

Review

The first flavors that come to me are a black pepper and light salt. There's a light smokiness as well. The chewing brings on more of the smokiness, but some garlic and onion flavor, perhaps a little more strong on the onion.

With respect to the "Black Pepper" labeling, it holds up well. I get a well-noticed black pepper flavor, a little more than the company's Original variety I reviewed last week, but not over the top. The pepper tastes freshly cracked, with that sharp, pungent taste. I'd rate the spiciness as "mild medium" on my heat scale (level 2 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of a light wood smoke flavor, supported with black pepper seasoning, and backed up with salt, garlic, and onion. It's very comparable to the company's Original flavor, but with a bit more black pepper.

The meat consistency looks excellent. Practically all meat, mostly tender, soft, yet retaining some chewiness. It's very meaty, practically a steak-like chewing texture.

Verdict

This Black Pepper beef jerky from Jerky Dynasty does a great job of delivering its advertised flavor with a prominent peppery profile, freshly cracked, without going over the top. It has the same old fashioned quality as the company's Original variety, primarily from its wood smoke flavor and steak-like chewing texture. It's just toned up with more of the peppery flavor for those who want some extra tongue-dancing definition.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://www.jerkydynasty.com/

Grandpa's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Jacob Piercy, based out of Fishers, Indiana. Piercy remembers being a kid and watching his grandfather hanging deer meat for jerky. Eventually, his grandfather handed down the recipe and process.

Today, Piercy sells packages of Grandpa's Beef Jerky at farmers markets across Indiana and online too, allowing jerky fans across the USA to enjoy a family legacy.

This "Original Cajun" is described as tasting, "...as though it's straight from the Bayou.", and is marked as, "Medium".

Ingredients

Beef, seasoning (salt, dextrose, spices, onion and garlic powder, flavoring, sodium erythorbate, silicon dioxide), water, cayenne pepper, dextrose, natural smoke flavor, sodium nitrite

Review

The first thing I taste right away is a blend of garlic and cayenne, with some saltiness coming in later. The chewing brings on a bit of sweet, but with more cayenne definition, and perhaps increased onion and garlic. I want to say there's oregano in it too.

For being marketed as, "Cajun" and tasting as if it came straight from the Bayou, it seems to hold up well. It has a seaoning flavor much like Tony Chachere's Original Creole. It has a noted cayenne pepper, but flanked with onion, garlic, and oregano flavors.

It's also marked as "Medium" in spiciness, and seems to hold up to that as well. That's about what I would rate it on my heat scale (level 3 out of 5).

The meat consistency is chopped and formed beef, shaped into bite-sized strips. It's a little more chewy than the company's "Sweet Teriyaki" and but a tad more soft than their "Original Hickory". It has a meaty chewing, and almost a steak-like chewing texture. These have a slightly oily handling.

Verdict

This Original Cajun from Grandpa's Beef Jerky seems to deliver a seasoning that does indeed resemble Cajun cuisine. It has a Cajun-style spiciness without being too spicy. It like the balance between tenderness and chewiness, and the meaty chewing texture. As a Cajun beef jerky, however, it doesn't really go beyond with anything new or extraordinary. It's otherwise, good product that delivers on its flavor.

Rating:

Good

Buy this online:

http://grandpasjerky.net/

Grandpa's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Jacob Piercy, based out of Fishers, Indiana. Piercy remembers being a kid and watching his grandfather hanging deer meat for jerky. Eventually, his grandfather handed down the recipe and process.

Today, Piercy sells packages of Grandpa's Beef Jerky at farmers markets across Indiana and online too, allowing jerky fans across the USA to enjoy a family legacy.

This "Original Jalapeno" is described as, "Garden fresh jalapeños add flavor and heat to Grandpa’s original hickory-smoked flavor." It's also marked as, "Hot".

Ingredients

Beef, seasoning (hydrolyzed corn syrup & wheat gluten protein, salt, onion powder, spice, soy bean oil), water, spices, dextrose, natural smoke flavor, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite.

Review

The first thing I taste right away is a saltiness with a faint smoke. The chewing brings on a seasoning blend of onion and garlic, while a light bit of heat comes in. There's also touches of sweet noticeable.

As for being labeled, "Jalapeno", and "Hot", it doesn't really hold up. I don't taste any jalapeno flavor, especially not anything "garden fresh" as the company claims. There is a moderate level of heat to this, but not "Hot". Assuming only spicy food lovers would buy this, they might be disappointed that it's only moderately spicy at best.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty seasoning blend of onion and garlic, with a touch of sweet and smoky, and a medium level of heat. You'll also notice a little bit of natural meat flavor too.

The meat consistency is chopped and formed beef, shaped into bite-sized strips. It's a little more chewy than the company's "Sweet Teriyaki" and but a tad more soft than their "Original Hickory". It has a meaty chewing, but not quite the steak-like texture. These have a somewhat dry handling touch.

Verdict

This Original Jalapeno from Grandpa's Beef Jerky didn't quite give me the jalapeno flavor I was looking for, especially not "garden fresh" as the company claimed on its website. It does deliver a fair amount of heat, but not quite the "Hot" that a spicy food lover might be looking for. As it stands on its own merits, it's a well-seasoned chopped and formed jerky, mainly flavored with salt, onion and garlic, with an average level of heat. It's still snackable, it just doesn't deliver on jalapeno flavor.

Rating:

Average

Buy this online:

http://grandpasjerky.net/

It’s that time of year again: Back to School and Back to Football – both excellent reasons to stock up on jerky to study, spectate, or raise your game. Below are some suggestions for enjoying jerky this Fall brought to you by the good people at Lawless Jerky:

1. 1. In class, stow your jerky in a hollowed copy of Tolstoy’s War & Peace. You’re going to want the extra space for more jerky storage.

2. While you’re watching the big game (or binge-watching the Real Housewives), make your jerky last longer by incorporating into Loaded Nachos. See the recipe below.

3. As the weather gets colder, you’re going to need a hand warmer on the gridiron. Bring it out early as a handy storage device for your Lawless Jerky.

What better way to take advantage of these tips than at 20% off? Use coupon code "BackToJerky" at LawlessJerky.com to save. This Fall, Stay Lawless!

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Little Bit Jerky - Bad Azz Bit

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Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Sweet Teriyaki

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Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Original Cajun

Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Original Jalapeno

Back to School, Back to Football + Back to Jerky