Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Original Hickory

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 (4/5)