Chudabeef Jerky Strips - Garliyaki

Chudabeef Jerky Strips is a brand launched by Kevin Casey based out of Long Beach, CA. The brand has been in business since 2014, and at the beginning of 2015 had just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Kevin is an active hiker and had been making his own jerky for his trips through the wilderness. His friends loved it so much, they offered to pay him for some. That got him interested in starting his own jerky business.

Chudabeef currently comes in four flavors. We only have this Garliyaki for review. The company describes it as having, "...a perfect balance of sweet and savory teriyaki sauce with a hint of garlic kick to make your mouth water for another piece!"

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Boot Jack Jerky - Beef Sticks

Boot Jack Jerky is a brand created by Tim Geyer and Wendy Geyer, based out of Ridgway, PA. Boot Jack Jerky has been selling online since 2012.

According to the company, Boot Jack Jerky is based on an old family recipe that was then improved based on feedback from American men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Geyers have set up a program called "Operation Get Jacked" where consumers can buy bags of Boot Jack Jerky for military personnel in Afghanistan, and have it air-dropped to US bases.

Boot Jack's beef sticks come in two flavors, "Mild" and "Spicy". Both are described as simply, "1.3 ounce stix, which is one third bigger than the competition at a better price. All Beef, no pork, no chicken, no fillers added".

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Jamie's Jerky - Turkey

Jamie's Jerky is the creation of Jamie Watt and his daughter Sasa Watt, based out of Crested Butte, CO. The Watts have been making jerky as a hobby for themselves and their friends for 35 years. They were getting so many requests that they finally decided to make it a business.

Jamie's Jerky claims to strive for "sustainable jerky", using only grass-fed beef and all natural turkey, with no hormones and antibiotics. It's also gluten-free. The company has won Gold Medals two years running at the Crested Butte "Annual Jerky-Off", fielding unamimous decisions both times.

This turkey jerky is claimed to be made from USDA Choice grade, all natural turkey, with no preservatives or MSG.

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Trailhead Beef Jerky - Original

Trailhead Beef Jerky is a brand of Trailhead Fine Foods, based out of Welshpool, Wales. The brand was launched in August of 2011 by Kevin Bigland in Cradley Heath, England, but in January 2013, the company was sold to Jason Howard, who moved it to Welshpool.

We originally reviewed two flavors from Trailhead back in June 2012, the "Hot Smoked Chipotle" and the "XXX Naga Jolokia", the latter scored a 5-star rating from us. Since being purchased by Jason in 2013, the company underwent a rebranding, and has since won the coveted, "Great Taste Award of 2015" for its Black Pepper beef jerky.

This Original beef jerky is described by Trailhead as being, "Delicately seasoned and carefully marinated to bring out the true flavour of our premium beef".

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Boot Jack Jerky - Spicy Smoked Beef

Boot Jack Jerky is a brand created by Tim Geyer and Wendy Geyer, based out of Ridgway, PA. Boot Jack Jerky has been selling online since 2012.

According to the company, Boot Jack Jerky is based on an old family recipe that was then improved based on feedback from American men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Geyers have set up a program called "Operation Get Jacked" where consumers can buy bags of Boot Jack Jerky for military personnel in Afghanistan, and have it air-dropped to US bases.

Boot Jack Jerky currently comes in one flavor, "Spicy Smoked Beef", described as, "tender, whole strip US beef, high in protein, spiced just right with true old fashioned smoke house flavor", and is made in a USDA inspected facility. They also offer beef sticks, which we'll review later.

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Coppernose Jerky - Teriyaki

Coppernose Jerky is a new brand that launched in the Summer of 2015. Based out of the Oxfordshire town of Burford, in England, Coppernose was founded by Liam Derry.

Liam was working on a degree at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester when the idea for Coppernose came about. Coppernose today is a run by Liam and his family. They use ethically sourced, 100% grass fed, British beef, allowing them to trace their meats all the way back to the farm. They use sliverside cuts, in long strips, and then marinated for 12 hours before dehydration. Coppernose Jerky is sold in small shops and outdoor markets throughout England, as well as from its website.

This "Teriyaki" variety is simply described as, "A taste of the Orient..."

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Charqs Smok'n Tender Grilled Pork Jerky

Charqs Smok'n Tender Pork Jerky is a new brand of jerky based out of Sleepy Hollow, IL. It was started Greg Schweiner, who helps run a corporate training and leadership business from the same town.

Charqs' biggest marketing angle is that it's grilled over an open flame and is made with real hickory wood smoke. The idea for Charqs was born from Greg's travels across the world, sampling a variety of street fare and recreating the flavors and styles that he loved the best. After spending years perfecting his recipe, Charqs was born.

Charqs is manufactured in a USDA inspected facility and thus far comes in only one flavor.

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Uncle Andy's Jerky - Boise's Mushroom Blue Cheese

Uncle Andy's Jerky, which we reviewed a year ago, has this new flavor coming out called, "Boise's Mushroom Blue Cheese Beef Jerky". It's currently in fundraising mode on Kickstarter.

Uncle Andy's Jerky was launched by Andrew Hanenberg, based out of Cedar Grove, NJ. Inspired by the eclectic ideas of craft brewers, Andrew initially launched with "manly" jerky varieties like "Bandito Spicy Coffee", "Lumberjack Maple Bourbon", and "Southern Gent Lemon Mint".

This new "Boise's Mushroom Blue Cheese" jerky is based on the steakhouse style of topping mushrooms and bleu cheese crumbles to a rib eye steak. According to Andrew's Kickstarter page, it utilizes Rogue Creamery's Blue Heaven Bleu Cheese.

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Golden Island Jerky - Kung Pao

Golden Island Jerky recently launched three new pork jerky varieties and an additional beef jerky variety, all in the company's Asian & Taiwanese tradition. We have two of these new flavors, including this Kung Pao Beef Jerky, and the Sriracha Barbecue Pork Jerky.

We originally reviewed Golden Island Jerky back in 2008, and then again in 2012 when they did a full rebranding. Since then, the company was purchased by Hillshire Farms in 2013, and then Hillshire Farms was purchased by Tyson Foods in 2014. Because of Tyson Foods' dominance in food distribution, Golden Island Jerky will be seeing increased market penetration, including Ralph Stores in Southern California.

This Kung Pao Beef Jerky is described by the company as being "spicy, soaked in a blend of Asian-inspired spices and topped with chili flakes".

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