Uncle Bo's Beef Jerky - Classic Original

Uncle Bo's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Tim Benton (AKA Uncle Bo), based out of Winter Springs, FL. Benton describes himself as a "native (hillbilly) from West Virginia and a pioneer at heart".

He started making jerky in 1998 after a friend bought him a dehydrator as a gift. After six months of experimenting, he came up with the recipe for his business. Since then, he's made jerky for friends and sold it locally. Last October, Benton launched a Kickstarter campaign to go USDA approved.

This Classic Original described by Uncle Bo as, "A classic American jerky with an umami twist".


Ingredients

Beef, water, sugar, salt, lemon juice, sesame oil, oyster extract, concentrated smoke, ginger, garlic

Review

The first thing I taste is a light sweet. A bit of salt comes in, and then a seafood character comes in, likely the oyster extract. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors.

For being described as a classic American jerky with a umami twist, it's right on. It's definitely has that expected beef jerky style and flavor one would associate with American meat snacks, but it also that "twist", which in this case is a light seafood flavor, more along the lines of shell fish.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a moderately salted, lightly sweet marinade with touches of seasonings, and then a noticeable shell fish flavor lying underneath. The natural meat flavors come through just enough to add an extra dimension.

The meat consistency is excellent. These are thin-sliced strips cut against the grain, still chewy enough to be jerky, but yet easy enough to snack on without tiring the jaws. They start out chewy, but chew down to something more steak-like. It's a dry jerky, but doesn't chew tough nor crispy. I do see bits of fat here and there, but not too much, encountered only light stringiness.

Verdict

This Classic Original from Uncle Bo's Beef Jerky manages to offer a great level of savory meat snacking enjoyment through its natural meat flavor and well-balanced meat consistency. The addition of oyster extract creates a light seafood flavor that stays in the background and doesn't overpower. It gives just enough flavor interest to a jerky that would otherwise taste simple and unremarkable. However, the way Uncle Bo's slices this jerky gives this an excellent chewing experience that alone makes this jerky get past the bell curve.

Rating: Good (4/5)