Beef Jerky Reviews

Name: Pony Express Jerky - Original Hickory Smoked
Item: Pony Express Jerky - Original Hickory Smoked
Rating: 4
Author: Steve Johnson

Pony Express Jerky - Original Hickory Smoked

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Pony Express Jerky is a brand owned by Pony Express Enterprises based out of New Holland, PA. The brand was started in 2009 by Ted Cundiff, a veteran of the meat snack industry. Cundiff originally launched Wild Bill's Beef Jerky in 1983, a brand that was bought up by Monogram Foods in 2009.

Pony Express is manufactured in its own USDA inspected facility in New Holland, right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The company offers a retail location in Blue Ball, PA.

This "Original Hickory Smoked" is the brand's flagship flavor, and is offered in two meat styles, this smaller cut style reviewed here, and a longer strip style sold in one-pound packages (which we will review later).

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, water, garlic powder, black pepper, potassium sorbate, cayenne pepper

Review

The first flavors I pick up are a light salt and a faint soy sauce. The chewing increases the soy sauce definition, and introduces a light garlic and a light spicy heat. Several chews later, the black pepper makes its way into the picture.

For being marketed as, "Hickory Smoked", there is indeed a light smokiness mixed into the marinade, but nothing that takes over the palate. There's also a faint smoky aroma that exited the package when I opened it.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of soy sauce, boosted with a bit of garlic, a touch of smoke, and a light black pepper. There's a light bit of spiciness in this, measuring as "mild medium" on our heat scale.

The meat consistency seems excellent. It's chewy right off the bat, and perhaps lightly tough, but chews down quickly enough without overworking your jaws. Most pieces seem free of fat, stringiness, or other tissues, though one particular piece has a pretty sizable chunk of fat. Once chewed down soft, it takes on a steak-like texture.

Verdict

This Original Hickory Smoked beef jerky from Pony Express offers up a savory, lightly smoky, flavor that's both simple and addicting. The soy sauce-forward marinade is actually very similar to Wild Bill's Beef Jerky, the same brand that preceded Pony Express. The steak-like chewing texture creates a more authentic jerky experience, though the initial chewy toughness might seem uninviting. In and of itself, this is an old fashioned style jerky designed to offer a traditional meat snacking experience rather than something complex and creative that many brands today try to achieve. By that measure, it does an excellent job of being classic, American jerky, something an actual Pony Express rider might have taken along for the journey.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Jerky's Gourmet - Habanero Sculpin

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Jerky's Gourmet is a new brand of jerky, founded by Tim Gerstman and Andria Taylor, based out of San Diego, CA. Gerstman, who transplated to San Diego from the East Coast 8 years ago, met Andria who also happened to love beef jerky. The two joined forces and launched Jerky's Gourmet.

Their jerky is sold at various shops, bars, and venues across the San Diego area. However the two can be found at the Little Italy Farmers Market on Saturdays, doling out samples of their jerky.

Habanero Sculpin also happens to be the name of a craft beer made by Ballast Point Brewing, another San Diego business. This jerky is marinated for 24 hours in this brew, creating a one-two punch of habanero spices and "subtle hoppy notes" on the tongue.

Ingredients

Grass fed beef, Habanero Sculpin Beer, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, seasoned salt, lime juice, gluten-free soy sauce, habanero powder, garlic, pepper, liquid smoke.

Review

The first thing I taste on the tongue is a heavy sweetness, along with some black pepper, and the "subtle hoppy notes" that the company described. Meanwhile, the heat is building quickly. The chewing brings on some of the natural meat flavors, a light habanero chile flavor, some more sweetness, and touches of garlic and seasonings.

For being marketed as "Habanero Sculpin", and for a jerky marinated in Ballast Point's Habanero Sculpin IPA, it represents pretty well. I do get a good deal of habanero heat, and light habanero chile flavor. But I also get a lot of the Habanero Sculpin IPA flavor. I can pick up the hops, and even the malt flavor. In fact, I can pick up a subtle alcohol too.

Otherwise, the flavors that define and dominate this jerky starts with a heavy sweetness that brings on the hop bitters, and black pepper spiciness, right away. The malt flavor comes on right along. The light habanero chile flavors comes through in the chewing, along with a light natural meat flavor. The jerky finishes with some garlic and seasonings. There's also noticeable tanginess in the chewing that creates an eye-opening experience.

The level of heat in this feels sigifnicant, but not over the top. On my personal heat scale, I'd rate this as "medium hot" (level 4 out of 5). If you love spicy hot foods, this will give you enough burn to enjoy without making you stop to cool off.

The meat consistency seems pretty good. This is a brisket cut, sliced thin to medium, and has a typical jerky chewiness, though still moist. I don't see any fat on these strips, though light stringiness, which seems expected for a brisket cut.

Verdict: This Habanero Sculpin from Jerky's Gourmet is one of the better beer-marinated jerky varieties I've reviewed. It really brings out the hops from an otherwise very hoppy IPA, along with some malt flavors, and even a light alcohol flavor. Most beer-marinated jerky brands settle with cheap beer, but apparently not Jerky's Gourmet. Ballast Point's "Habanero Sculpin IPA" is one of the top-shelf brews among San Diego craft beer aficionados, and Jerky's Gourmet has done an excellent job with it's marinated-beef interpretation.

Rating: Best

Buy this online:

https://www.jerkysgourmet.com/

Blu Collar Meat Co. - Teriyaki

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Blu Collar Meat Co. is a start-up jerky brand launched last April 2018 by Steven and Brandy Reinecke in Lancaster, CA. Marketed as "100% homemade beef jerky", Reinecke says they use only locally sourced meats and ingredients.

The name, "Blu Collar Meat Co." makes reference to Steven's profession as a welder. "We represent the working class, and everybody putting in work ... whatever your profession, we got the jerky for you".

This Teriyaki variety is described as being made from, "...our blend of sweet teriyaki sauce and delicious pineapple."

Ingredients

Beef, Teriyaki, Brown Sugar, Pineapple Juice

Review

The first flavors I pick up is a light sweet and a light natural meat. The chewing brings on a touch of teriyaki. The meat flavors pick up more as the chewing continues.

For being marketed as "Teriyaki" there's very little teriyaki flavor noticeable. I can identify the soy sauce component, and the sweetness is light. But aside from that, there's no fermented flavor and no ginger or other pungent spice. The pineapple flavor is not noticeable, however there's a faint tangy fruit that lightly piques the palate.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a light sweet and light soy sauce over an aged, marbleized natural meat flavor.

These slices are chewy, though still easy to bite off and get through. They eventually feel very steak-like, comparable to something cooked medium-rare. Despite the heavier marbleized cuts, I didn't encounter any stringiness or unchewable tissues.

Verdict

This Teriyaki beef jerky from Blu Collar Meat Co. remains true to the company's meat-forward identity with a well-pronounced, natural meat flavor, weighted on its marbleized slices of round. The teriyaki and pineapple flavor is light, offering up touches of soy sauce and sweet and hints of tropical tanginess in the background. But otherwise, this is a jerky for meat snackers who love that aged, marbleized flavor on slices of soft, easy chewing, but want only conservative amounts of other flavorings. I love the tender chewing, the medium-rare, steak-like texture, and the fatty meat flavor.

Rating: Good (3/5)

West Virginia Beef Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

West Virginia Beef Jerky is a brand started by Wayne and Patti Burdette of Alderson, WV back in 1996.

Recently, the couple teamed up with meat processor named Peerless Food Service to take their brand into the competitive business of gourmet jerky. Produced in small batches, hand packed and graded, West Virginia Beef Jerky is claimed to be nitrate-free.

The company describes their jerky as, "Cowboy jerky", and as, "only a Mountaineer can make beef jerky this good".

Ingredients

Solid strips of beef, water, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper sauce, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder.

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is the saucy combination of worcestershire and soy sauce, along with the garlic and onion powder seasoning. The chewing brings on a light natural meat flavor, along with a faint bit of heat, and a light black pepper.

I'd agree that this has a "cowboy style" flavor and does seem to evoke style of something more rugged and manly with its drier meat consistency, peppery flavor, and bold marinade. It's not a soft and tender chew, but not tough either. It has a dry, woody texture instead of the moist, soft chew you now find in large chain shops.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty, saucy marinade of worcestershire and soy sauce, boosted with garlic, onion, and black pepper. It's not sweet at all, and almost has a fried steak flavor as opposed to grilled. It's not hot either, but is still lightly spicy from the black pepper and cayenne sauce. I'd rate the heat at "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5).

The meat consistency looks really good. It appears to be all meat with little to no fat visible. The chewing is dry, but very meaty and steak-like, similar to a well-done cooked New York Strip. It's not a soft chew, but not tough either.

Verdict

West Virginia Beef Jerky definitely lives up to its own description of "cowboy style" and its Appalachian ruggedness with its bold flavor, light spiciness, and meaty, steak-like chewing. It's definitely not the tender and moist styles popular in white-collar neighborhoods, nor the sweet and fruity flavors found in college-towns. It's much more masculine, perhaps best for guys who like to wake up in the morning by throwing a steak into the pan, and grabbing a cold-one from the fridge.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Venison Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse says this Venison Jerky has , "No wild taste", and goes on to describe the flavor as, "Just a hint of tang with a little Black Pepper", and says the meat comes from, "slices of premium, tender VENISON prime steak".

Ingredients

Venison, brown sugar, water, honey, salt, garlic, natural smoke flavoring, celery powder, black pepper

Review

The first flavor that hits the tongue is sweet, followed by a faint salt. The chewing brings on a touch of black pepper, and eventually introduces the natural flavor of venison. A light smokiness finally finishes off the flavor.

For being a venison jerky, this does give off a noticeable venison flavor. It has that more rich, red meat character that venison is known for, and just like what Whiskey Hill Smokehouse says, it doesn't have the "wild taste". It's a milder venison flavor overall, not really the sharp, darker red meat flavor.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a dominant sweet, along with a noticeable black pepper, against the natural venison meat flavor. The garlic and smoke flavoring remains light in the background.

The meat consistency is excellent. It's a bit tough initially, and will take some chewing effort to get through, but yet doesn't wear down the jaws that much. It's actually a dry jerky, though quite moist and sticky on the surface. Yet, these appear to be thick slices of pure venison meat, with no stringiness and nary any fat.

Verdict

This Venison Jerky from Whiskey Hill Smokehouse serves up the unmistakable flavor of venison, with a clearly defined rich, red meat character that deer is known for. It's not gamey at all, yet offers a natural meat flavor distinguished from beef and other red meat animals. The company does a great job of minimizing the seasonings to help the venison meat flavors rise to the top, yet still offers just enough sweet, garlic, and black pepper to keep this savory and snackable. Otherwise, this jerky tends to be tough, requiring you to get good grasp just to pull apart. And because the surface of these pieces are moist and sticky, that good grasp results in some messy fingers. For that matter, this jerky is better suited pre-sliced into bite sized pieces. On top of that, despite the brand having the word, "Smokehouse" in the name, the smoke flavor doesn't taste real wood smoked. Regardless, the flavor of venison is well represented here, and will certainly convert many deer meat newbies into repeat snackers.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Where to buy:

Buy Whiskey Hill Smokehouse Venison Jerky

Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Korean Barbecue

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Korean Barbecue" variety is described by the company as showcasing, "the use of Korean barbecue sauce as a main ingredient", going on to say that they, "blended it up with a few more spices", and then fused it with their old fashioned recipe.

Ingredients

Beef, gluten free tamari sauce, white sugar brown sugar sesame oil, honey, garlic puree, granulated garlic, granulated onion, sesame seeds, green onion, ground black pepper, liquid hickory smoke, ground ginger, mustard powder, allspice.

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is the sesame seed and oil, followed by a light salt and a noticeable garlic and onion seasoning. The chewing brings on a bit more onion definition, along with touches of sweet. There's a light soy sauce towards the end of chewing.

For being marketed as, "Korean Barbecue", it's actually comparable to Korean "bulgogi", which is that country's classic grilled slices of beef, but marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings. It's not the smoky, charred table-style grilling that Korean Barbecue restaurants are known for. Rather, this is more like the style of grilled beef that a Korean restaurant would serve already cooked and prepared for you. All that's missing is the bowl of rice and Kim Chi.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is an oily, nutty, sesame seed flavor, flanked by a light marinade of soy sauce, touches of sweet, but a noticeable garlic and onion seasoning.

The meat consistency is very soft and moist. These slices of brisket are very tender, and leaves a fair amount of oily residue on the fingers. The chewing is mostly mushy, not necessarily meaty, and definitely not steak-like. Think of thin slices of beef well marinated in oils, salts, and sugars, dehydrated just enough to be edible, but remaining highly moist.

Verdict

This Korean Barbecue variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a jerky you almost want to nuke over a bowl of rice and a side of Kim Chi. It's very comparable to Korean bulgogi, a style of marinated, grilled beef, with a dominant sesame seed flavor, and oozing with sesame oil. This jerky is very tender, so tender that it tends to chew mushy. But with all that being said, is quite enjoyable because it does indeed evoke a Korean style flavor, similar to the stuff you find in the Korea Towns of Los Angeles and San Diego. While the mushy chewing might set some traditional jerky folks back, I think the flavor is well representative enough of Korean cuisine that it's worth a try if you're willing to expand your horizons. Keep a wet wipe handy though, this stuff is quite oily.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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.

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 (5/5)

Buy this online:

http://www.chefcraigsbeefjerky.com/

Gringo Bandito Beef Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Gringo Bandito has entered into a deal with Homegrown Meats to offer a new co-branded beef jerky variety.

Gringo Bandito is a popular brand of hot sauces owned by Hungry Punker, Inc., based out of Huntington Beach, CA. It was started by Dexter Holland, singer for the punk rock band The Offspring more than 10 years ago.

Homegrown Meats is a brand of grass-fed beef based out of Palomar Mountain, CA that offers a line of steaks, roasts, sausage, and of course, beef jerky. We actually wrote a review of their, "Good Ol' Traditional" last year.

Ingredients

Certified grass-fed beef, organic brown sugar, orange juice, Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce, sea salt, Ancho Powder, lime juice, cayenne, granulated garlic, granulated onion, ground black pepper, apple juice, pineapple juice, oregano, cumin, citric acid.

Review

The first flavor I pick up is the signature Gringo Bandito hot sauce. It doesn't start out hot, but slowly builds up. Mostly, I get a light sweet and a mixture of chile pepper and citrus. The chewing brings on a light bit of natural meat flavor, but also a bit more citrus flavor, and a savory blend of garlic and onion. The heat continues to build.

For being marketed as a "Gringo Bandito" flavored jerky, it definitely delivers. I get a lot of the famous hot sauce flavor, but I also get quite a bit fruity citrus too. It creates a unique tanginess against a piquant habanero and jalapeno, and a low level of vinegar. It's also noticeably sweet. the level of heat remains at "medium hot" on our heat scale (level 4 out of 5), making it pleasure-inducing for spicy food lovers while keeping it snackable for mindless munching.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is that of the Gringo Bandito hot sauce, but well mixed with citrusy orange and pineapple, a noticeable sweet, a lighter vinegar note, and light chile pepper flavor. The level of saltiness feels moderate, and the natural meat flavors remain light in the background.

The meat consistency looks and chews good. Many pieces seemed dry and chewy, but a few others felt moist and tender. I did not encounter any stringiness, or encountered anything unchewable. These are mostly strips of pure meat. Some pieces chewed down to a dense, mushy character, not at all steak-like. Others, meanwhile, had a meaty texture, but was rather dry and tough.

Verdict

This Gringo Bandito beef jerky delivers much of the same signature flavor that made the hot sauce famous, but also adds in a nice blend of citrusy orange and pineapple, with vinegar and chile peppers. It's overall a sweet jerky that packs a decent level of heat, but balances in the savory ingredients of garlic, onion, and salt. The chewing texture didn't offer much to be desired, mostly dry and tough, while the few soft and moist pieces felt mushy. All in all, you get an awesome beef jerky marinade, over well-trimmed slices of pure meat, but a chewing texture that falls short.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Smoke Shack Jerky - Snack Sticks

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

These snack sticks are described by the company as being 60/40 Pork & Beef, cured, and smoked. They come in two flavors, Jammin Jerk and Fuman Chew.

Jammin Jerk

Ingredients: beef and pork, brown sugar, encapsulated citric acid, salt, red pepper, worcestershire sauce, celery juice powder, black pepper, allspice, garlic powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, colored collagen casing

The first flavors is a lightly salted seasoning, followed by a cured meat flavor. There's a lightly spicy heat brewing slowly, followed by a touch of tangy, and hints of sweet. For being associated with Jerk seasoning, and presumably a Jamaican-inspired flavor, it actually does have that Caribbean-island flavor, most notably the complex blend of seasonings, and a light bit of chile pepper heat. We ratet the meat as, "mild medium" (level 2/5). Overall, the primary taste profile starts with the cured meat flavor, but washed over with a good deal of seasonings and a noticeable red chile pepper spice.

The meat consistency feels a bit light and airy, not so much full and meaty like most brands of meat sticks. In some regards, it's comparable to South African-style droëwors, with a similar weight and solidity, though the droëwors is even more so. But, the casing has a fair amount of snap and crunch to the bite, and the meat itself is finely ground with no hard bits or unchewable tissues.

Fuman Chew

Ingredients: beef and pork, brown sugar, salt, encapsulated citric acid, worcestershire sauce, celery juice powder, red pepper, chili powder, black pepper, colored collagen casing.

Interestingly, this flavor is also available as a beef jerky, see our previous review.

The first flavor that comes into view is a lightly sweetened sauce, tasting more like a mix of teriyaki, steak sauce, and vienna sausages. It's moderately salty, with a vinegar-like tanginess. The meat flavors are more mild than the Jammin Jerk variety, but don't taste as cured either. Overall, it's more mild in seasoning and spice, and doesn't really taste at all like the Fuman Chew beef jerky. Overall, the primary taste profile is moderately sweet sauce, more associated with grilling and/or barbecue, but with vienna sausage overtones and a vinegar tanginess.

The meat consistency is different than the Jammin Jerk, feeling more solid and meaty, but with the same light snap and crunch to the bite. The meat mixture is smooth and finely ground, with no bits of hard or unchewable tissues.

Verdict

These 60/40 blend of pork and beef snack sticks from Smoke Shack Jerky definitely offer up two new unique flavor concoctions that you won't find elsewhere. The Jammin Jerk, a Jamaican-inspired flavor, definitely has the character of the famed Caribbean island cuisine, notably the Allspice and a chile pepper heat, but mixes into it a cured meat flavor with a light and airy meat consistency. I tend to prefer the Fuman Chew variety, however, which serves up a recipe that's difficult to pin down, but largely a barbecue or grilling sauce profile with a unique combination of vinegar tanginess and vienna sausages. Overall, we like the light snap and crunch to the casing, and we do like the unique recipes and flavor profiles. Definitely a couple of sticks worth trying if you're looking for something new to add to your snack stash.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Buy this online:

https://smokeshackjerky.tumblr.com/

Bakke Brothers Brand - Peppered Beef Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

http://www.bakkebrothers.com

Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

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.

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 (5/5)

Buy this online:

http://chefcraigsbeefjerky.com/

Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Original

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Original" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as, "its mellow smoky flavor complements the jerky’s lean meat", going on to say that it's, "perfect for people who love the classic taste of beef jerky".

Ingredients

Beef, gluten free tamari sauce, water, brown sugar, minced garlic, hickory smoke, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, granulated garlic, ground pepper.

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is salt, but with a light sweet. The flavor of soy sauce comes into view along with a bit of garlic. The chewing brings on a light smoke while the salt increases a bit. The natural meat flavors come more noticeable towards the end.

For being described as having a "mellow smoky flavor" and "classic taste of beef jerky", it hits the mark right on. There's a smokiness to this that comes on slowly and stays mellow throughout. It's also certainly a classic beef jerky flavor for its simple seasonings of salt, pepper, and garlic.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a light soy sauce, moderately smoked, with a touch of sweet, and ample seasonings of garlic and black pepper. There's a natural meat flavor that comes on strong at the end.

The meat consistency is great for a brisket-style jerky. It has a light stringiness, but overall meaty. The chewing is generally easy, lightly moist, and tender. It has a meaty feel, and takes on a steak-like texture.

Verdict

This Original variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. ushers in a distinctly classic American jerky flavor centered around a mellow smokiness, and savory seasonings of salt, garlic, and black pepper. The soft, tender chewing makes this very snackable and lures you into wanting more. The smoky, natural meat flavors, however, is the real star of the show, and thanks to the otherwise light ingredients, allows them to come through well. If you're ever tasked with having to introduce a foreigner to American culture, you might start him on this bag of Original from Smokehouse Jerky Co, and say, "Welcome to Murica".

Rating: Good (4/5)

Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Tropical Fusion

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Tropical Fusion" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as a Mango-Pineapple flavor, going on to describe it as, "a great taste of the tropics with flavors of pineapple, mango and teriyaki for a sweet, citrus flavor".

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, mango, pineapple, teriyaki sauce, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, granulated garlic, ground pepper, ginger, sesame seeds

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is a significant sweet, with shades of pineapple. There's a tanginess starting to build. The chewing brings on a fruity character as the mango becomes more defined, and the tanginess increases. The garlic is noticeable, and in a lighter amount the lemon juice.

For being dubbed, "Tropical Fusion", and as a mango-pineapple variety, there's a clear tropical fruitiness that dominates. While the higher level of sweet helps belt out the concept of an island fruit blast, it's the mango that's more noticeable than the pineapple. There's also a citrusy lemon wafting back in there.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a strong sweet with a tanginess that bursts out mango and to a smaller degree, pineapple. There's a lighter teriyaki marinade in the background with a noted garlic emphasis.

The meat consistency is great for a brisket-style jerky. It has a light stringiness, but overall meaty. The chewing is generally easy, quite moist, and tender. It has a meaty feel, and takes on a steak-like texture. Despite the higher level of sweet in this, it doesn't chew gummy at all.

Verdict

This Tropical Fusion variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. is mango-pineapple focused chew with a little bit more mango than pineapple. With added sweet, it belts out a dominant tropical profile with bursts of tangy fruit in each chew. There's a light teriyaki marinade that sits in the background to provide a more familiar savory base, but for the most part it's mostly sweet, fruity, and tangy that define these strips of beef brisket. You get an easy chewing texture, lightly moist, but very meaty, almost taking on a steak-like feel. It's definitely a jerky that wants a Hefeweizen style ale to wash down with.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Saki Teri-Yaki

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

This "Saki Teri-Yaki" is said to be a throwback to the days when teriyaki was made with real sake. These days, most other companies make teriyaki with mirin wine, or rice wine vinegar.

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, water, gluten free soy sauce, sake, molasses powder, salt, honey, natural flavoring, pineapple, garlic, onion, spices, sesame

Review

The first flavor I pick is the teriyaki sauce, with a fair amount of sweet and light salt. The chewing brings on a more defined teriyaki, with a clearly fermented flavor, while the natural meat flavors come in. There's a touch of garlic and onion noticeable.

For being marketed as a sake-infused teriyaki, there's clearly a more fermented flavor in this, just like what true, Japanese-style teriyaki is traditionally known for. The sake is lightly noticeable on its own, with touches of that rice-wine fermented profile. It mixes together well with the sweet and soy sauce to create a more Japanese steakhouse flavor. This teriyaki, however, doesn't have the ginger contrast that traditional teriyaki has.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a well-sweetened teriyaki sauce, with a strong ferment character, and touches of garlic and onion seasoning. The natural meat flavors come on towards the end.

The meat consistency is excellent. These are thick strips of pure meat with no signs of fat and no stringiness detected. The initial bites are chewy, yet are still easy enough to get through, but chew down to a steak-like, meaty texture. There's a faint bit of stickiness that remains on the fingers.

Verdict

This Saki-Teri-Yaki beef jerky from Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a true throwback to the old days of Japanese-style steakhouses when teriyaki was made with real sake. This has that rich fermented flavor, with shades of that famous rice wine profile. It mixes in with the strong sweet and soy sauce ingredients to create that popular Japanese steak sauce that teriyaki fans today are longing to find. However, the thick slices of beef in this jerky adds to the experience by giving you a more meaty chew and steak-like feel. You get true, Japanese-style flavor, with thick manly cuts of meat, for a treat you'll rarely find elsewhere.

Rating: Best (5/5)

Where to buy:

https://whiskeyhilljerky.com

Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Boysenberry

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Boysenberry" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as having, "the sweetness of berries and the smoky, peppery flavor of our premium brisket beef", going on to say, "the boysenberry’s sweetness has a little bit more of a tangy taste which perfectly blends well with the jerky’s smoky lean meat".

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, boysenberry concentrate, water, pineapple, mined garlic, gluten free tamari sauce, worcestershire sauce, lemon, sea salt, ground pepper, ginger

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is a tangy boysenberry and a fair amount of sweet. There's just a wee bit of salt. The chewing brings on more of the tanginess, while hints of soy sauce and worcestershire can be barely be noticed. There's a light natural meat flavor that takes shape towards the very end.

For being sold as a boysenberry flavored jerky, this really hits the mark. It's an unmistakable flavor, and even has a tangy quality to it. The added sweet helps sell the boysenberry, and reminds me of the boysenberry pancake syrup often found at IHOP restaurants.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a sweetened and tangy boysenberry, comparable to boysenberry syrup, with only faint levels of salt and marinade. The natural meat flavors are there at the end, but also light.

The meat consistency is great for a brisket-style jerky. It has a light stringiness, but overall meaty. The chewing is generally easy, quite moist, and tender. It has a meaty feel, and takes on a steak-like texture. Despite the higher level of sweet in this, it doesn't chew gummy at all.

Verdict

This Boysenberry variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. brings out the full flavor of boysenberries, and does it in convincing manner. The aroma that comes out of the bag is overwhelmingly boysenberry, but once you chew into a piece, it bursts with that flavor made famous by Knott's Berry Farm with a nice fruity tanginess. This jerky adds a fair amount of sweet to the boysenberry, and in some respects reminds me of boysenberry pancake syrup. The soy sauce and worcestershire marinade is barely noticeable, and the other seasonings are kept very light. This is really a boysenberry show interpreted through tender, semi-moist, slices of beef brisket. Even though it's largely a one-dimensional flavor, it's surprisingly good and tough to stop eating.

Rating: Best (5/5)

Jerky's Gourmet - Ghost Pepper

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Jerky's Gourmet is a new brand of jerky, founded by Tim Gerstman and Andria Taylor, based out of San Diego, CA. Gerstman, who transplated to San Diego from the East Coast 8 years ago, met Andria who also happened to love beef jerky. The two joined forces and launched Jerky's Gourmet.

Their jerky is sold at various shops, bars, and venues across the San Diego area. However the two can be found at the Little Italy Farmers Market on Saturdays, doling out samples of their jerky.

This Ghost Pepper jerky is described as being "soy free" and "gluten free", and is balanced "with subtle hints of honey and pineapple".

Ingredients

Grass fed beef, brown sugar, honey, dark molasses, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, beef stock, pineapple, ginger, ground black pepper, ghost pepper, hickory liquid smoke, cayenne pepper, citric acid, white pepper, paprika.

Review

The first thing I taste on the tongue is a strong sweetness. The ghost pepper heat builds up quickly. I can taste some of its flavor as well. The chewing brings on more of the ghost pepper flavor, along with some worcestershire, and seasonings. I can also taste hints of the pineapple.

For being marketed as a Ghost Pepper beef jerky, it certainly holds up well. I do get quite a bit of its sharp, seething heat, but also a lot of its fruity, flavor. The heat is quite hot, rating as "hot" on my personal heat scale (level 5 out of 5). It brings on a runny nose and sweaty forehead.

The flavors that define and dominate this jerky starts with the strong sweetness, along with a fruity pineapple in the background. But then it's the unique flavor of Ghost Peppers that take over. The saucy combination of worcestershire, seasonings, and even beef stock, become noticeable.

Considering this also marketed as "soy free" and "gluten free", the use of worcestershire, beef stock, and other seasonings as an alternative to soy sauce works pretty well. I can taste its influence, and creates a backdrop that lets the Ghost Pepper flavor stand out well.

The meat consistency seems pretty good. This is a brisket cut, sliced thin to medium, and has a typical jerky chewiness, though still moist. I don't see any fat on these strips, though light stringiness, which seems expected for a brisket cut.

Verdict: This Ghost Pepper variety from Jerky's Gourmet does a great job of giving you the full experience of a Ghost Pepper infused jerky with its sharp, tongue-piercing heat, and its fruity, peppery flavor. But it doesn't stop there, the saucy marinade of worcestershire, beef stock, and seasonings makes for a great alternative to the soy sauce used by so many other brands. The strong sweetness and the light pineapple background creates for a nice contrast to the fiery heat and pungent Ghost Pepper flavor. It's a well balanced jerky that gives you a lot to think about in each bite.

Rating: Best

Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Sea Salt, Honey & Pepper

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Sea Salt, Honey & Pepper" variety is described by the company as being, "seasoned with freshly cracked peppercorns, sea salt, spices and sweet honey", going on to say that it, "packs an extra kick to its blend and taste".

Ingredients

Beef, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, pineapple, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, granulated garlic, ginger

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is a light sweet, followed by a faint teriyaki. The chewing brings on a black pepper spice, and a touch of fruity tanginess.

For being marketed as a "Sea Salt, Honey & Pepper" flavored beef jerky, this does have a salt flavor, perhaps as much as what standard teriyaki sauce contains. It has a strong black pepper seasoning, giving off quite a sharp, freshly cracked flavor. The honey, however, is not noticeable. There is, on the other hand, a noticeable sweet, but again in about the same level as teriyaki sauce.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a sweet teriyaki sauce, well-spiced with black pepper, and touched up with a bit of fruity tanginess.

The meat consistency is great for a brisket-style jerky. It has a light stringiness, but overall meaty. The chewing is generally easy, quite moist, and tender. It has a meaty feel, and takes on a steak-like texture. Despite the higher level of sweet in this, it doesn't chew gummy at all.

Verdict

This Sea Salt, Honey & Pepper variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. delivers a strong black pepper seasoning, giving off a sharp, freshly cracked flavor. While the sea salt part of this flavor has a typical level of saltiness, the honey is largely represented by a fair amount of sweet. Otherwise, this has more of a teriyaki profile, but spiced up with black pepper and infused with some fruity tanginess. In a lot of respects, it's like the company's Teriyaki variety, but with a lot of black pepper. The meat consistency has a tender chewing, semi-moist, but feeling very meaty, almost steak-like.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Wicked Cutz Beef Jerky - Volcanic Jalapeno

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Wicked Cutz Beef Jerky is a new brand, having debuted just a couple of months ago. It was launched by Branch Warren, a well-known body builder who has won numerous competitions over past couple of decades. Warren also owns other companies that market apparel and body building supplements.

Warren's move into beef jerky touches upon his heritage in the Texas cattle industry going back 150 years. He grew up on a cattle ranch and in his youth spent time as a ranch hand before moving on to body-building. Now in his retirement, he sought to start his own jerky brand and touch upon his cattlemen roots.

This Volcanic Jalapeno is described by the company as, "sweet and smooth first bite (that) slowly builds into a hot and spicy eruption", going on to say that it, "erupts like a boxing kangaroo with a caffeine addiction".

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, soy sauce, water, fresh jalapenos, worcestershire sauce, ground pepper, hickory smoke, cayenne, granulated onion, jalapeno powder, granulated garlic, citric acid

Review

The first flavors that hit my taste buds is a light red chile pepper with a bit of sweet. The chewing increases the sweet while a natural meat flavor slowly fills in. Touches of cayenne are noticeable, along with a little bit of soy sauce. The heat builds as the chewing continues.

For being named, "Volcanic Jalapeno" and described as as "spicy eruption", there's indeed a jalapeno flavor, though more like a dried red-ripened variety. It has the right level of heat I would expect from a jalapeno variety, and perhaps even lives up the word, "erupt" as the company used. I'd rate this on our heat scale as "medium hot" (level 4 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a sweetened, soy sauce & worcestershire marinade with a fair amount of jalapeno and cayenne seasoning, over a light natural meat flavor.

The chewing texture is overall easy, though retaining a light chewy nature. They do soften up quickly without much effort. They take on a meaty, steak-like texture, with only light stringiness. I don't see any fat on these slices.

Verdict

This Volcanic Jalapeno beef jerky from Wicked Cutz goes a little more hot than competing brands of jalapeno jerky, doling out more heat than what most folks are accustomed to these days. Still not quite as hot as habanero jerky, it has more of the flavor of jalapeno, particularly a dried, red-ripened variety, along with a noticeable cayenne. Otherwise, it has a sweet, saucy marinade with a light natural flavor, enough to create a good deal of chewing addiction. I like the meaty chewing with the steak-like texture, Make sure you want a hot, spicy jerky when ordering some, because you're going get something about as hot as an actual jalapeno.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Bakke Brothers Brand - Beer Sausage Sticks

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill'founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

These "Beer Sausage Sticks" are made with, "...a flavorful dark locally made Oregon beer". The brand goes on to describe these sticks as having a, "Mild Smoky flavor with a hint of garlic."

Ingredients

Beef, beer, salt, sugar, garlic, spices, natural flavorings

Review

The first flavors that come into view is a light salt and a touch of garlic. The chewing brings on a bit more garlic, some black pepper, and perhaps even coriander seed. There's a natural meat flavor that comes in later, along with a light bit of heat in the background.

As for being marketed as, "Beer Sausage Sticks" and make with a flavorful, dark Oregon beer, it's hard to identify the beer characteristics if you don't know what to look for. I do pick up a faint beer-marinade in the background, noted by the unique effects it has on the meat flavor. You're not going to taste straight-up malt and hops; it's really more of the way alcohol-based marinades give meat a more earthy character.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a lightly salted seasoning flavor, primarily of garlic and black pepper, and perhaps something extra, maybe coriander seed, over a natural meat flavor, and light spiciness.

These sticks have a firm bite with a light snap. They start out chewy, and a little rubbery, though as you deeper into the chewing they soften up. The handling is lightly oily. I didn't find any unchewable bits in these sticks.

Verdict

These Beer Sausage Sticks from Bakke Brothers Brand generates a lot of good snackability through a garlic and black pepper-forward seasoning and a firm, meaty chewing texture. While the beer marinade has only a faint-to-light effect on this meat flavor, it's lightly noticeable for folks who are well-accustomed to alcohol-based marinades. These sticks have a fresh character through their firm bite and light snap on the casing. Don't expect a big, bold beer flavor in this, expect a meaty, seasoned palate, over a fresh, chewy bite.

Rating: Good (4/5)

J&K Beef Jerky - Prime Rib

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000

J&K Beef Jerky is a brand owned by J&K Distributors based out of Huntington Beach, CA. J&K Distributors is an actual distributing company that stocks convenience stores throughout Southern California. J&K has been around since 1980.

Like most distributing companies, J&K offers several brands of jerky for its store clients, but also offers its own house brand. According to the company, they've offered this jerky over the past 20 years.

This Prime Rib beef jerky is not otherwise described by the company, nor comes with any claims aside from a photo of a juicy prime of beef on the label.

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, bouillon beef base, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, salt, paprika, seasoning salt, liquid smoke

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a light sweet, followed by a savory marinade that soon develops into a beefy soy sauce laden with onion seasoning. The chewing brings on some natural meat flavors, and introduces a whisp of cayenne spice at the end.

For being marketed as "Prime Rib", there's a light reminiscence of the popular weekend steakhouse special, particularly the fatty, outer edges of a 12 ounce slice encrusted with seasonings. It does not, however, taste exactly like a slice of prime rib, nor anything close to the center portion. There's no pungent horseradish in this jerky, just a modest recognition of au jus sauce in the marinade.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty marinade comparable to a beefy flavored soy sauce with lots of seasonings and a bit of sticky sweet. It's peppery but also spicy with a light level of cayenne heat, registering as mild medium on our heat scale (level 2 out of 5). Think of it more as a seasoned steak variety of jerky than prime rib.

These slices of meat are chewy, but not tough. They have a faint bit of stickiness on the surface, but not enough to gunk up your fingers. There's light levels of stringiness in the chewing, but otherwise this jerky has a meaty chew that takes on a steak-like texture. I do see some streaks of gristle in the larger slices.

Verdict

This Prime Rib beef jerky from J&K may usher in some familiarity with a 12 ounce slice of the chef's special, perhaps with a light au jus flavor, or even the peppery, fatty edges of an end cut. But otherwise, these are not actual slices of prime rib, just beef jerky meant to mimic that roasted beef style. It kind of salty due to its stronger seasonings, as well as peppery with a light bit of cayenne heat. Think of it more as a seasoned steak style of jerky with a beefy soy sauce marinade. Chewy, yet easy to get through, this stuff has a meaty consistency with a steak-like texture. Definitely a more manly offering from J&K that you'll want to wash down with something cold and refreshing.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Elk Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse describes this Elk Jerky as being made in a, "new natural Gluten Free recipe".

Ingredients

Elk, brown sugar, water, honey, salt, garlic, natural smoke flavoring, celery powder, black pepper

Review

The first flavor I pick is a light sweet, a touch of salt, and a noticeable meat flavor. The chewing brings on some black pepper along with hints of garlic. The natural meat flavors pick up just a tad towards latter part of chewing.

As an elk jerky, this delivers a good amount of natural meat flavors. It has that more rich, red-blooded flavor, comparable to venison, along with a bit of gamey character. Compared to the company's Venison Jerky, that I reviewed a few weeks ago, this is a little less rich, but a little more gamey. There's that red-blood aftertaste that lingers in the back of the mouth, too.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a lightly gamey, natural meat flavor layered with a low sweet and salt, moderate black pepper spiciness, and touches of garlic.

The meat consistency is excellent. These appear to be strips of pure meat with no signs of fat and no stringiness detected. The initial bites are chewy, and a little tough, but chew down to a steak-like, meaty texture. There's a faint bit of stickiness that remains on the fingers.

Verdict

This Elk Jerky from Whiskey Hill Smokehouse delivers a good natural meat flavor, noted by the rich, red blood character that you'll find common with elk. I like that Whiskey Hill kept the marinade and saltiness down to help the natural flavors come through. It also has a fresh, natural character with its meaty, steak-like chewing texture and firm bite. It's has enough black pepper seasoning that you could see this as a peppered jerky, though my taste buds still reported an overall mild flavor. This also makes for a great beer-pairing jerky too, and I think you'll want something more refreshing and malty, like a Newcastle Brown Ale.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Where to buy:

Buy Whiskey Hill Smokehouse Elk Jerky

The Jerky Hut - Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

The Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago.

Much of its jerky is sold through independent "retail licensees", who are the folks running the booths at the shows. It's parent company, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, runs its own USDA inspected facility.

This Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky variety is marketed as having a "medium hot heat range due to the infusion of hot crushed red chili peppers", and goes on to say that it has a "rich smoky flavor from Oregon hardwoods".

Ingredients

Beef, water, corn syrup solids, seasonings, teriyaki sauce, crushed red peppers, smoke flavoring, worcestershire sauce, black pepper, monosodium glutamate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite

Review

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a smokiness and light salt. The natural meat flavors linger in while a light bit of heat starts. The chewing brings on a bit more smoke, along with a noticeable chile pepper, some more salt, and some black pepper. The natural meat flavors continue to build while the heat increases.

For being named, "Hot Cowgirl" and described as having a medium hot heat range, it seems to hold up well. It definitely has a spicy heat but not too much so. I'd rate in our heat scale as "medium hot" (level 4 out of 5). It also has a fair amount of chile pepper flavor too. The smokiness that the company described is also there too, but at a moderate level.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a moderately smoked and salted natural meat flavor with dashes of chile pepper and black pepper. It's not at all saucy, despite the addition of teriyaki and worcestershire. Instead, there's a faint sweet, but mostly it tastes seasoned and smoked.

The meat consistency is excellent, resembling something of an old fashioned style. These are thick sliced strips that start out lightly moist, but very meaty. They eventually chew down into something very much like pieces of steak. No stringiness was noted, nor anything unchewable. These are beautiful slices of pure meat.

Verdict

This Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky from The Jerky Hut reminds me much of the company's Cowboy Beef Jerky, but spiced up with fair amount of red chile pepper flakes. You get a decent amount of heat, enough to produce tingling on the scalp and a moistness on the brow. For the most part, it tastes and chews like an old fashioned style jerky, perhaps something you'd associate with the Old West, but hot and sassy like a six-shootin' sweetheart. The addition of corn syrup solids makes this only faintly sweet, though moderately salted, and might make an option as a keto diet snack.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Where to buy:

https://thejerkyhut.com/

The Jerky Hut - Sweet Golden Nuggets

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Next in the series on Jerky Hut are these Sweet Golden Nuggets. See my previous review of their Cowboy Beef Jerky.

Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago. Whiskey Hill Smokehouse runs its own USDA inspected facility.

These Golden Nuggets are the brand's signature product, sweetened with brown sugar and described as tasting like barbecue ribs.

Ingredients

Beef, brown sugar, water, seasonings, liquid smoke flavoring, garlic powder, monosodium glutamate, black pepper, sodium nitrite.

Taste

The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a heavy sweetness, followed quickly by a smokiness. There's some oily flavor, and a touch of saltiness too. The chewing flavor starts with a little bit more sweetness and a light natural meat flavor. The smokiness continues on into the chewing.

Considering the company describes these Golden Nuggets as having a flavor comparable to barbecue ribs, I tend to agree, but more like pork ribs. The barbecue flavor has no spiciness to it, it's mostly a thick sweetness and a noticeable smoke.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a light natural meat flavor doused with a heavy sweet, with a bit of a mild barbecue sauce, and light salt and oiliness.

The meat consistency is excellent. These are strips of pure meat, with virtually no fat visible, and no stringiness detected. They feel semi-moist. The initial bite is relatively easy, with just a bit of chewiness. Otherwise, they chew down to a steak-like texture. The handling can be sticky and oily.

Verdict

These Sweet Golden Nuggets from Jerky Hut offer a very mild flavor, mostly a combination of thick sweetness with a moderate smoke, and a light natural meat flavor. The steak-like chewing and semi-moist texture is perhaps where this jerky generates most of its snackability. It's easy to face-stuff this jerky quickly. The smoke flavor works with the thick sweet to create a light barbecue character that helps the snacking experience. It still rather bland for the experienced jerky aficionado, but excellent for meat chewing and beer pairing. It would work well with a wheat, white ale, or hefeweizen.

Rating: Average (3/5)

Where to buy:

Buy Whiskey Hill Smokehouse Jerky Hut Nugget Beef Jerky

Bakke Brother Brand - Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill'founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say that it has a, "spicy heat for a unique taste".

Ingredients

Beef, water, honey, brown sugar, sea salt, jalapeno, natural smoke flavoring, garlic, celery powder, black pepper

Review

The first flavors I pick up is a fair amount of sweet, along with light smoke. The honey flavor comes into view, followed by a light spicy heat. The chewing brings on some, oily natural meat flavors. Further along comes in a touch of garlic.

For being called, "Honey Jalapeno" and being described as, "spicy heat", it holds up somewhat. It has a subtle jalapeno flavor, with a light level of heat. I was able to get more flavor when chewing into one of the dried jalapeno chunks on these pieces . If you didn't know this was marketed as having a jalapeno flavor, you might not ever notice it. On our heat scale, this rates as, "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5). The honey flavor, however, is noticeable. For one, this jerky is quite sweet. But, it also has that buttery, almost caramel-like flavor, that honey is known for.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a thick sweet with honey flavor over a light smoky natural meat flavor, with a light jalapeno. The garlic and black pepper remain subtle, while the salt level feels moderate.

These are thick sliced strips of beef that appear to be quite lean. The heavy sweet (and oily consistency) leaves these strips tender and easy to chew. They take on a steak-like chewing texture that creates a lot of snackability.

Verdict

This Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky from Bakke Brothers Brand is like meat candy due to its strong sweet and its buttery honey flavor. The jalapeno flavor and heat remains light, doling out just a smolder of spice give these thick slices of meat some excitement. The real winner however is the smokey natural meat flavor, which when combined with the nectar of bees, creates a warm, steaky snacking experience. Grab a wet wipe because these strips of pure meat are sticky and oily to handle, but remain tender and easy to chew.

Rating: Good (4/5)

Where to buy:

http://www.bakkebrothers.com

Bakke Brothers Brand - Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Johnson) — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill's founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky is made with Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers and is marked as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say, "So you think you want to go a little hotter?".

Ingredients

Beef, water, brown sugar, red chili peppers, salt, moruga scorpion pepper, natural smoke flavoring, habanero pepper, cayenne, garlic, lime, onion, black pepper, celery powder

Review

The first flavors I pick up is the sharp, pungent flavor of trinidad scorpion pepper. There's a light salt, and touches of sweet. The chewing brings on a more intense flavor in all of the Scorpion's rich, earthy, and floral notes. The natural meat flavors start to come in. Meanwhile, there's an intense heat brewing.

So is it really as hot as Trinidad Scorpion peppers? Indeed it is. It's very hot, to say the least. The heat takes about 30-45 seconds to kick in, and when kicks in, it pierces the tongue with cherry red hot irons. Moreover, the endorphin rush is intense. It really wires you up like downing an entire pint of espresso and a couple of 5 Hour Energies. The eyes water, the nose runs, and the scalp tingles with perspiration. It rates as "hot" on our personal heat scale (5/5). But the flavor is right there too, very pungent, earthy, even floral. It's a well-represented Trinidad Moruga pepper in jerky form.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is largely the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, but with light levels of salt, sweet, over a natural meat flavor. There's perhaps more flavors going on in there, but the scorpion pepper is so front and center, and the heat is so intense, it's difficult to identify them all.

These are thick sliced strips of beef that appear to be quite lean. They bite off easily enough, with maybe a touch of chewiness, and chew down to a steak-like texture. There's a light oily film that remains on the fingers, and better careful not to rub your eyes with this stuff.

Verdict

This Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky from Bakke Brothers Brand brings out the full flavor of Trinidad Moruga Peppers in all their earthy, pungent glory, but also attacks the tongue, blood temperature, and sweat glands with a stinging level of heat that will have your arms and hands flailing wrecklessly like the Karate Kid on THC gummies. Bakke Brothers keeps the marinade tame with a light salt and sweet so as to bring out the earthy yet floral flavor of these muscle-paralyzing strips of beef. But it's not all about heat and flavor that makes this jerky so incredible, it's the high level of endorphin rush that comes with it. It's like being wired up with 8 shots of espresso and a couple of 5 Hour Energies, while sweat and tears runs down your face. Definitely not a jerky to pull a prank with, it's serious chewing for serious chile pepper heads.

Rating: Best (5/5)

Where to buy:

http://www.bakkebrothers.com