Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

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."

Read More

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.

Read More

Bakke Brothers Brand - Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky

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?".

Read More

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Whiskey BBQ 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".

This "Whiskey BBQ" is part of a series of alcohol-infused jerky varieties recently launched by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse. Others include Maple Bourbon, and Saki-Teriyaki. The package is marked, "Gluten Free".

Read More

Dahlonega Jerky Co - Cracked Pepper Beef Brisket Jerky

Dahlonega Jerky Co. is a new brand launched in 2018 by Steve and Laurie Hallock out of Dahlonega, GA. The couple owns Outlaw Jerky & Trail Grub, a jerky and snack store based in the same town.

Their "Taste Local" jerky line was inspired by the farm-to-table culinary experience using locally sourced ingredients. The Dahlonega Jerky label pays tribute to the town's gold rush history. It is the location of the first U.S. Gold Rush in 1828. The label is based on an 1800's Gold Mining Stock certificate.

This Cracked Pepper Beef Brisket jerky variety is described as having a "savory hickory flavored beef, followed by salt and cracked black pepper...", along with "...a medium chew that chews down to a steak chew texture."

Read More

Crazy Horse Beef Jerky - Sweet

Next in the series on Crazy Horse Beef Jerky is this Sweet variety. See my previous review of their Original beef jerky.

Crazy Horse Beef Jerky is a brand made by Dave Wenrich in Hellam, PA, who started making this brand about nine months ago, based on a old family recipe that he got from his father, who received the recipe from his father, who received it from his father.

Dave smokes all of his jerky from USDA certified bottom round in a homemade smoke house using maple, oak, and fruit woods, and sells it locally in some shops and on his eBay store.

Read More

Miernicki's Amazing Jerky

Miernicki's Amazing Jerky recently redeveloped its recipe after we published our original review last December 2016, and sent us more samples for a review. The company is based in Santee. CA.

The company was founded by Paul Miernicki, a PGA golf professional who spends much of time running a golf instruction course in San Marcos, CA. Considering how popular beef jerky is with folks who like to whack little white balls over well-manicured lawns, he chose to perfect his own meat snack recipe instead of spending so much money on "jerky soaked in chemicals".

This new recipe effectively keeps the same emphasis on coriander, vinegar, and black pepper, but eliminates some extraneous ingredients, and lowers the amount of sodium. It's still labeled as, "all natural", but the company includes that it's gluten-free too.

Read More

Divine Swine Bacon Jerky - Bangin' BBQ

This Bangin' BBQ is one of three new bacon jerky varieties now offered by Divine Bovine under their new "Divine Swine" brand.

The Divine Bovine brand has been around since 2001, but company founder Anthony Longo's passion for beef jerky goes back into the 1980s when he would travel back home from Mammoth Mountain in the California Sierras, and stop for some fresh made jerky at a local shop. Since then, he's mastered a unique recipe and built a popular brand that continues to sell in retail outlets across the country. This new bacon jerky line is now among the company's best sellers.

This "Bangin’ BBQ Flavored" is the best selling of Divine Bovine's bacon flavors. They describe it as a, "mild blend of savory spices and Pops’ unique recipe, slightly sweet with natural mesquite and hickory flavors, and a little kick from ginger and cayenne." They go on to say that their bacon jerky is "NON-GMO" and claim it's gluten-free and paleo-friendly.

Read More

Jeff's Famous Jerky - Thai Satay Turkey

The newest flavor from Jeff's Famous Jerky is this Thai Satay Turkey Jerky. Based out of Mission Viejo, CA, Jeff's Famous Jerky is a brand owned by Jeff's Famous Foods, Inc.

The company started up in 2010 when Jeff Richards decided to make a business from his favorite snack food, jerky. Since the 1970s, Richards has been making his own jerky, getting better year after year, similar to like a 40-year old bourbon. Professionally, Richards has spent his career in the restaurant business and also coaches entrepreneurs through a consulting business.

This new Thai Satay Turkey Jerky is described by Jeff as delivering a Thai Peanut sauce without using peanuts. He apparently uses, "innovative methods to make it without nuts, so it is safe for those with peanut or nut allergies." The package is also stamped, "Sweet & Mildly Spicy".

Read More

House of Jerky - Camel Jerky

House of Jerky has extended their line of exotic meat jerky to include this Camel Jerky. They also offer Python Jerky now too.

The company started in 1997 by Ron and Janie Honeycutt, a husband and wife team in Temecula, CA. They opened a store there, but eventually moved their corporate office to Evansville, IN. The Temecula store is still there. Since then, they've franchised their business and now have House of Jerky shops all over the country.

This package of Camel Jerky doesn't make any claims on flavor, texture, quality, nor even mention where the camels were sourced from, or even the breed of camel. It's just plainly labeled as, "Camel".

Read More