Katie's Beef Jerky - Carolina Reaper

Katie's Premium Jerky & Snacks is a brand owned by Katie's Snack Foods, LLC based out of Hilliard, OH. It was started in 2014 by Katie Levesque, a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Katie loves jerky so much, that she actually sleeps with it under her pillow (in a plastic bag), and prefers spicy jerky (so that other people won't ask for some). She loves it so much, she left her career as an engineer to launch her own jerky company. Katie's Premium Jerky & Snacks is made in its own USDA inspected facility.

This "Carolina Reaper" variety won an award at the 2017 ZestFest Fiery Food Challenge. It's described as "gluten free", and comes with the warning, "dangerously hot!".

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Jerky's Gourmet - Ghost Pepper

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.

This Ghost Pepper jerky is described as being "soy free" and "gluten free", and is balanced "with subtle hints of honey and pineapple".

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Elk 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 describes this Elk Jerky as being made in a, "new natural Gluten Free recipe".

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Boston Jerky Co. - Wicked Hot

Boston Jerky Co. was founded by Mike Tryba and Brandon Angiolillo based out of Danvers, MA. The brand just opened up for sales in February 2018, however both Mike and Brandon had been working on recipes since 2014.

The brand focuses on using 100% grass fed beef, and claims to add no nitrites and no MSG. It also claims that each package is, "100 calories per bag".

This "Wicked Hot" variety is described by the company as being made with, "wicked hot habanero peppers", going on to say that it, "packs a mean Beantown punch".

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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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Bakke Brothers Brand - Garlic Lovers 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 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 "Garlic Lovers" appears to be one of the brand's best sellers based on reviews.

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Pony Express Beef Jerky - Applewood Smoked

Pony Express Jerky is a brand owned by Pony Express Enterprises based out of New Holland, PA. The brand was started in 2009 by Ted Cundiff, a veteran of the meat snack industry. Cundiff originally launched Wild Bill's Beef Jerky in 1983, a brand that was bought up by Monogram Foods in 2009.

Pony Express is manufactured in its own USDA inspected facility in New Holland, right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The company offers a retail location in Blue Ball, PA.

This "Applewood Smoked" is described by the company as, "Aromatic, rich, and robust a flavor that only a true traditional Apple Wood smoke can impart to."

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Jeff's Famous Jerky - Sriracha Style Ghost Pepper

Sriracha Style Ghost Pepper is the newest beef jerky creation from the folks at Jeff's Famous Jerky. Read our previous reviews of Jeff's Famous Jerky.

Jeff's Famous Jerky officially opened for business in 2010 and is owned and operated by Jeff's Famous Foods, Inc., led by founder Jeff Richards and CFO Mike Aggarwal, out of Mission Viejo, CA. The company offers a dozen flavors of jerky and four flavors of bacon jerky, along with one chicken jerky variety.

This Sriracha Style Ghost Pepper is described on the packaging as "Extra Hot & Spicy" and is the second jerky from Jeff's Famous to include the popular asian-style hot sauce.

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Joe's Wicked Good Jerky Firefighters' Favorite

During the summer of 2015 a serial arsonist attacked Contra Costa County in California, sending more than 10,000 firefighters on the line fighting fires. The men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. Joe's Wicked Good Jerky answered the call to help support those firefighters.

During the hot summer over 60,000 packages of Joe's Wicked Good Jerky was sent to the front lines. In the sack lunches firefighters found packages of Joe's Peppered, Regular and Sweet and Spicy jerky. Owned and operated by Joe and Traci Nixt, Joe's Wicked Good Jerky is distributed out of Redding, California and has been in business since March 2015.

"It feels so good to send a treat to these men and women who do so much for us and keep us safe. Joe and I are so grateful for their efforts," said Traci.

As it turns out, these firefighters love this jerky! Orders pour in all year long after the firefighters return home. In 2016 more of Joe's jerky was sent to the front lines and even more orders poured in afterwards.

"Had your Regular in a lunch sack at the fires in Trinity County last Summer. Best jerky ever! Reminds me of what my Mom made when I was a kid. Keep up the great work!" Andrea T., Fair Oaks, CA

"Had this jerky on the Valley Fire and it is amazing!! Every time I opened my lunch this is the first thing I went for!" Dan M., Nampa, ID

"This is by far the best jerky that I've ever tasted!" Ashley C., West Columbia, SC

Joe and Traci want to thank these firefighters for all they do and encourage everyone to be fire safe this summer.

Order yours today by visiting their website.

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People's Choice Beef Jerky - Old Fashioned

People's Choice Beef Jerky is a brand of Peoples Sausage Company, Inc. based out of Los Angeles, CA. It's a family-run business that's been around since 1929. See our previous reviews of their jerky.

Recently the company relaunched its Old Fashioned line of jerky using an old recipe that hadn't been packaged before, and based on our previous reviews, it looks to be a different cut of meat as well. The relaunched Old Fashioned line is meant to be simple, preservative free, gluten-free, and to highlight the natural meat flavor.

The two varieties in this line are Original and Hot & Spicy.

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