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Next in the series on Ed's Roadhouse Jerky is this Sweet Black Pepper variety. See my previous reviews of their Lil Sweet Jalapeno Habanero and Devil's Tongue varieties.Ed's Roadhouse Jerky is a family run business based out of Buffalo Grove, IL. It's run by Ed Herman, a long time BBQ fanatic, who found inspiration for great tasting meat after visiting a restaurant in Chicago called "Talbots".
About 20 years ago, he started "Ed's Roadhouse Jerky", making his own jerky, spices, and sauces, focusing specifically on a balance of sweet and hot. The package label comes with a freshness guarantee that all the jerky he makes is made to order (as opposed to sending you something off the shelf I presume). It comes without preservatives, and advises that as soon as you receive it, you refrigerate it.
Ingredients
Angus beef eye of round, fresh black pepper blend, water, garlic salt, sugar, soybean, wheat salt, natural flavoring spices, molasses.
Taste
The first thing I taste from the surface of these pieces is a sweet flavor, a salty flavor with hints of soy sauce, and a moderate black pepper flavor. I can also feel a spicy bite from the black pepper, and I can pick up traces of garlic.
The chewing flavor starts with a light natural meat flavor, a slightly stronger saltiness, a stronger black pepper, with a bit more soy sauce flavor at the end.
Well for being dubbed "Sweet Black Pepper", this jerky definitely holds up well to that claim. I certainly do pick up the sweetness, mostly on the surface, and particularly at the first few seconds of putting a piece into my mouth. After that, the other flavor components swarm in and the sweetness gets pushed to the background.
But the black pepper is much more dominant than the sweet. On an individual piece, I still get a strong flavor, while over several pieces it builds up an intense aftertaste and a light burn.
Also, after eating several pieces the intense black pepper tends to numb my tongue somewhat, making it more difficult to taste the other flavors, mostly the surface flavors. I find with this jerky that by taking a drink, and then pausing about 10 minutes, and then eating another piece, I can taste the flavors better.
The natural meat flavors in this are still very noticeable despite the strong black pepper, though they too tend to lose their flavor due to the numbing effect of the black pepper. But otherwise, they have that same marbilized beef flavor that I found in Ed's other varieties.
The salt flavor intensity in this seems moderate.
There's also a soy sauce flavor in this, that's slightly noticeable on the surface, but more noticeable towards the latter end of chewing, as the other flavors wear off.
Overall what you're going to taste in this the most is the black pepper, in a strong intensity. You'll also notice the natural meat flavors very well. The sweetness is primarily noticed in the first few seconds of putting a piece into your mouth. You'll also notice a moderate saltiness throughout, but manifesting itself into a more defined soy sauce flavor towards the end of chewing.
Meat Consistency
These appear to be slices of whole meat, sliced thin, and in bite sized pieces.
This is a dry jerky, but with a good deal of flexibility. Tearing a piece apart with my fingers is very easy, but due to its bite sized piece you won't need to tear these. Chewing is very easy.
The chewing texture starts out feeling soft, with a slight bit of rubbery chewing resistance, that easily gives way to a little bit of sucking and light biting. It chews down to a soft mass quickly enough, and at that point it takes on a steak-like chewing texture, but more like soft steak, perhaps comparable to the outer portion of a rib eye cooked medium-rare.
In terms of fat content, I see a fair amount of fat marbilization on these pieces, enough so that it contributes to the overall flavor, but in a good way. But I don't find any gristle, tendon, or any stringy sinews.
It's also clean eating, my fingers don't pick up much residue, except for an occasional pepper chunk. The bite sized pieces means not having tear pieces apart, and not getting any flying fragments.
Snack Value
Ed's Roadhouse Jerky sells all of their jerky varieties from its website at a price of $3.75 for a 2oz package. They also tack on $5.75 for shipping. If you can buy one pound of their jerky, in different varieties, it'll cost you $35.75. That works out to a price of $2.24 per ounce.
For general jerky snacking purposes, at the $2.24 price per ounce, it presents a good value. I'm getting a lot of snackability for its great overall flavor, good meat consistency and chewing texture. Even though the $2.24 price is higher than store-bought mass-market jerky, you're getting a far better jerky with more snackability.
As a Sweet Black Pepper jerky, at the same $2.24 price per ounce, it presents a good value. You're actually getting a lighter amount of sweet compared to other jerky brands that advertise themselves as "sweet", but you're also getting a ton of black pepper. So maybe it all balances out somehow.
Rating
I'm giving this a best rating.
This Sweet Black Pepper variety from Ed's Roadhouse Jerky has a very pleasing base flavor with its natural meat flavors, soy sauce, and a touch of garlic, and then adds some sweetness on the surface, with a great deal of black pepper.
It's more for the folks who love black peppered jerky than those who love sweet jerky. The sweet lasts only a few seconds initially until the other flavors floods in. The black pepper is quite strong, which perhaps is a boon if you love black pepper. Except I found the black pepper intensity to be high enough to where my tongue suffered from some numbness, requiring me to take a 10 minute break and a drink, just to be able to taste the full flavor again.
Still, I felt compelled to keep eating more because it offers a good chewing texture, is easy to chew, and the bite sized pieces seem to encourage eating more.
Like with the other varieties of Ed's Roadhouse Jerky that I reviewed, this Sweet Black Pepper largely wins with its well-noticed natural meat flavors, one that resembles marbilized beef. The addition of soy sauce, garlic, sugar, and black pepper does a great job of enhancing that flavor, and giving it a good "pop".
My recommended beer pairing for this, go with a stout.
Rating:
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Southern California-based affiliate marketer, blogger, motorcycle rider, beer drinker, who makes his living online
22 comments:
Steve, your review and ranking are dead on. If I were to choose my most all-time favorite beef jerkys--and I've had a bunch--Ed's Roadhouse Sweet Black Pepper variety would rank high on my list. Most likely, number one. I just love the subtle sweetness blending with the gradual burn of black pepper on these thinly-cut pieces of jerky. And through all of the seasonings, the meat flavor is very evident. Everyone I give pieces to--at home, at work--raves about how good it is and asks where they can buy some. And if you like this, you might want to try Ed's Black Pepper variety. Very similar but slightly less sweet.
I have tryed the other flavors of Ed's Roadhouse on Steve's recomendation and I have now ordered some of the sweet black pepper from Ed's roadhouse. I love the lil jalapeno and devils tongue, so now I can not wait to get the sweet black pepper. Eds' roadhouse is just the best of the best. The flavors just pop with taste. Keep up the great work Ed's Roadhouse Jerky.
Jeff in Washington
Just got my Ed's roadhouse sweet black pepper jerky and wow, everyone is right. This jerky is awsome. I only ordered 4 bags but 3 are already gone. I am ordering more and want to tell Steve to keep up the great review's. I tryed Ed's Roadhouse jerky on Steve's recommendation and I am not disappointed.
Jeff in Washington
I have just received my jerky from Ed's roadhouse and wow i have never tasted anything like it. It has such a great flavor unlike the store bought brands. My personal favorite would have to be ginger but my boyfriend loves the sweet black pepper and i will definetley order more from Ed's roadhouse.
Raquelle, Florida
I just recived my order of black pepper third order allready I also ordered his new orange jerky You have to try Eds Roadhouse ? sweet and spicy orange beef this stuff is by far the best tasting jerky I have ever tasted who would have thought orange beef jerky? this %#&@ is out of this world DAM!
Richard, Skokie IL
I love the sweet black pepper jerky, it has a nice sweet start then it gives you a nice kick in the a$$ when the black pepper slides ever so smoothly down your throat. I have tried almost every flavor of Eds Jerky and I have not been disappointed, this stuff is the real deal. I give every one of Ed's Roadhouse jerky's a five plus rating.
Bob
This black pepper is got it all. The meat taste is very bold along with the great flavor of the pepper. I can't get enough. Just ordered for my 3rd time and each time my friends and family end up eating it us before I get a chance to get my fill or I told them to order there own.
Steve, keep us the great reviews
George - Indiana
I love black pepper jerky the spiciness of it so I tried this black pepper from Ed's Roadhouse I don't know what to say except DAM!! this has to be the best tasting black pepper jerky I have ever ever had I tried to save some for later didn't happen I couldn't stop eating it and finished the bag. I only ordered 2 bags not knowing how the jerky was going to taste.
I would definatly recommend this to anyone who likes a great tasting black pepper jerky.
David G, Fort Meyers,FL
If your looking for some "Quality" jerky you gotta try Ed's Roadhouse jerky this guy has it down pat as far as flavor texture and his variety of flavors that will blow you away !!! I have tried 6 of 11 flavors so far Black Pepper & Sweet & Spicy Orange are my all time favorites and I have to say this is the "Best" out there that I have ever had !!
Ed your beef jerky is outstanding.
John C, Phoenix Arizona
This is a great black pepper jerky the slight sweetness pairs great with the black pepper if you try this jerky order atleast 2 bags u won't be disapointed this I will say has been the best tasting black pepper jerky I have had in a long while. I'm on my 4th order alleady since my roommates got a hold of my stuff it doesn't last long! This jerky with an ice cold beer nothing better!!!
Brent, Miami
I still find Ed's Roadhouse Jerky to be the best I have tasted so far and I've had quite a few differant jerky brands. Eds jerky is consistant and you just can't beat the texture and flavor it's outstanding and not to mention very addicting I find that a plus in what ever I'm eating LOL!!.
John C, Phoenix Arizona
Ed's Roadhouse Jerky gets quite a bit of what seems to be phony testimonials.
Do what you want, I'm just saying its more unbecoming than helpful.
I'm one of the fans of Eds Roadhouse that have left comments on this site before. I'v also left positive comments for several other jerkys on this site and just because a large number of people leave comments doesn't mean they have to be phony it just means it's a great jerky and they want other people to know about it. If your a jerky fan u know how hard it is to find a great tasting jerky. I for one will keep Eds Roadhouse as one of my top picks.
im not a phoney.
I very recently ordered 4 different flavors from eds and they threw in a 5th one on the house :)
The teriaki flavored one actually tastes something like a dried procuitto. I just opened the bag of orange beef and that is fantastic as well.
Highly recommended.
Great black pepper beef jerky.
I like smaller pieces in this jerky not to much handling that's a plus and the flavor is very satisfying .
Would definitely recommend.
I am not really a fan of thin style jerky and for a second I was disappointed when I opened the package. However, I was completely blown away by this jerky. It's really good and the bite sized portions make it so there's more to chew than the equal volumes of thick cuts you get at the store. The flavor is better than any other story jerky I've had. No preservatives so easy going down.
I say Eds Roadhouse has won me over with his black pepper jerky I've had many different kinds and so far this is a winner. Also it's nice to see the the variety of jerkies out there glad I found your site.
I would definitely Recommend this Black Pepper Jerky.
Sammy :)
I would like to comment on the flavor of this black pepper of Eds Roadhouse I've had a lot of different black pepper varieties and nothing so far comes close to this jerkys taste ? or flavor ? I'm not much for hot stuff, black pepper is as hot as I go and I'm totally satisfide with this flavor from Eds and as far as his slogan goes Nobody beats his meat I would totaly agree!
Just Great Black Pepper Jerky what can I say.
Wayne,Calif
Awesome!
Eds Roadhouse sweet black pepper jerky has to be my favorite pepper jerky i've tried so far. The sweet & spice is nice!
Amanda :-)
Once you start eating this jerky you can't stop I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing you can't get enough :)> LOL
Excellent Black Pepper Jerky!!!
"Hot Peppa"
This has to be the best black pepper so far that I have tried. The sweetness is just right not overpowering and compliments the black pepper perfectly. I'm not one for to much sweet but this one fits the bill right on!
This one comes in first place for me!
MotoDave2
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