Keeno's Beef Jerky - Salsa

Keno's Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Gary Keeney, baesed out of Wichita Falls, TX. Established in 2010, Keeno's manufacturing process is state inspected, and the company runs an outlet store in the same building.

Keeney got into the jerky business while working at Dell Computers, where he sold bags of his homemade stuff to fellow employees. After getting laid off, he went into business for himself with the aid of a $17,000.00 prize for winning the IdeaWF competition hosted by Midwestern State University. Keeney also won the 2014 Peppers and More World Jerky Contest.

This "Salsa" jerky is one of Keeno's best sellers, mixing red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, with traditional salsa ingredients, and is also claimed to be "Medium Heat"

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Two Chicks Beef Jerky - Classic

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.

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Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

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.

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Jerky by Art - Garlic

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.

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Venison Jerky

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".

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Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Sweet & Spicy

Jedidiah's Jerky is a brand that we reviewed before (read the reviews here). Some time ago, they revamped their line of jerky with new recipes and new branding, and moved their headquarters to Laughlin, NV to Beatty, NV. Jedidiah's Jerky also has since opened up a chain of beef jerky stores called, "Jed's Jerky" throughout Nevada and California.

This new "Beef Brisket" line replaced the company's old "Private Reserve" line, which was also beef brisket. This new recipe has much less sodium than the previous recipe. You can read the previous review of that Sweet & Spicy here.

This "Sweet & Spicy" beef brisket jerky was also named the favorite jerky in an August 2010 issue of Maxim Magazine.

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Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Original Cajun

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".

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Jerky's Gourmet - Habanero Sculpin

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.

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Jerky Dynasty - Black Pepper

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".

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Beer Sausage Sticks

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."

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