Chops Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Chops Snacks, Inc. based out of New Haven, CT. The company was started in June 2016 by two recent Yale University undergraduates, Luke Sellers and Aaron Jones, along with food industry veteran Dusty Jaquins.
The company claims their jerky is made from 100% USDA Choice and Select beef brisket, sourced from cattle within the United States. They use no MSG, no nitrites, and no artificial preservatives. Their jerky is labeled as "all natural" and "exceptionally tender", while their website further claims to be gluten-free.
This Teriyaki is described by Chops as, "a tangy alternative to the original flavor", and goes on to add that it offers, "some added dimension to the ingredients", creating something familiar yet new.
Ingredients
Beef brisket, low sodium gluten-free Tamari Sauce, pineapple juice concentrate, granulated garlic, black pepper, ginger
Review
The first flavors that hit my tongue is a noticeable sweet, followed by teriyaki. The chewing brings on the teriyaki with a bit more definition, along with touches of ginger. There's also a slight tanginess.
For being marketed as a Teriyaki beef jerky, it holds up well. I definitely get a good dose of teriyaki flavor, more heavy on the soy sauce end, but still with a significant sweet. It does have the fermented character that traditional Japanese teriyaki is known for, and there's also that touch of ginger, which also is reminiscent of the same.
As for that "added dimension" that creates something new, I'm not sure what it is. I do see pineapple juice in the ingredients list, but that's an ingredient many jerky brands have used before.
Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a blend of sweet and salt anchored by a soy-sauce weighted teriyaki. The black pepper is light, but is there if you look for it. There's a light tangy chewing with a subtle fruity character going on in the background.
The meat consistency is great for a brisket cut jerky. Compared to other brands boasting brisket cuts, this is very meaty, perhaps offering more meat and less fat and stringiness. It's also quite tender as the package claims. It's very easy to chew, lending itself to greater snackability and the urge to eat more. It takes on a chewing texture much like a filet-mignon cooked medium-rare.
Verdict
This Teriyaki beef jerky from Chops delivers a very classic, yet true to tradition, Japanese-style teriyaki. On these moist slices of brisket, the flavor bursts with seasonings and flavorings, so much so I can taste the subtle pineapple juice, and can even detect the faint alcohol in the Tamari Sauce. But while it's quite snackable and addicting, it's still rather ordinary as far as brisket style, teriyaki jerky goes. That "added dimension" the company claims this offers, doesn't come through strong enough, whatever it was supposed to be, and this jerky really needs something extra. Otherwise, if you're yearning for a more tender, flavorful teriyaki jerky, you'll definitely get it with Chops.
Rating: Good (4/5)
Where can I buy some?
ReplyDelete