The G.O.A.T. Beef Jerky Company - Original

The G.O.A.T. Beef Jerky Company is the creation of John Towe, who started the company late in 2018, based out of Oklahoma City, OK.

The story is perhaps none too unfamiliar, a guy gets a dehydrator for Christmas and actually does something with it. In fact, does a lot with it, eventually experimenting with various recipes and buying up so much beef at the local grocery store that he rose to the top of PETA's most wanted list. His friends liked his jerky so much, and he was tired of working at the same job for 20 years, and next thing you know he's taking out a loan, buying up more dehydrators, and making a replica of Devil's Tower with his mashed potatoes (look it up)...

No, this is not goat jerky. G.O.A.T. is an acronym for "greatest of all time".

This Original variety, according to the company's website, "is not traditional jerky", going on to say it has "bold flavor", "not too dry and not too moist", and "tender".

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, garlic salt, ground pepper

Review

The first flavors that imparts on to the tongue is a noticeable salt, with shades of worcestershire. There's an immediate seasoning blend with a light spiciness. Soy sauce becomes lightly visible. The chewing brings on the natural meat flavors, having more of a well-done cooked steak palate. The black pepper emerges as a more prominent spice. The yellow mustard noted in the ingredients definitely creates a more distinctive overtone to this marinade than what you might find in other brands of jerky.

For being described as, "bold flavor" and "is not traditional jerky", it definitely is bold. That is, it packs in a lot of taste that hits all areas of the tongue, from salty, to sweet, to savory, to spicy, and does a great job of not pulling any punches. But as far not being traditional, that's a relative term. Yes, this is not like the jerky of 20 years ago, and nor is it like the big brands of Jack Link's, Oberto, or Old Trapper. However, it still is very much like many other gourmet brands that utilize a brisket cut, where it's brimming with those four S's of sweet, salt, savory, and spicy.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a more intense of marinade of soy sauce and worcestershire, with a bit more salt, a bit more black pepper, and even a light chile pepper heat, all resting over a well-done cooked steak flavor. There's also a faint pungent note, likely that of the yellow mustard, which seems to create a more unique chewing palate.

The meat consistency resembles that of sliced beef brisket, well marinated, with a soft chewing, and slightly moist. Like with most brisket-based jerky brands, it does have a light bit of stringiness, but otherwise, very little fat noted and nothing unchewable. It's fairly easy to chew. Once chewed down soft, it takes on a meaty feel, even somewhat steak-like, though lightly mushy.

Verdict

This Original variety from The G.O.A.T. Beef Jerky Company packs in a bold flavor, just like what the company claimed, that immediately hits the tongue with an all-out assault of sweet, salt, spicy, and savory ingredients. It's the kind of meat snack that doesn't wait for you to figure out what position you want to try, but instead takes charge right away, ties you down to the bed, and does things with your mouth whether you're ready for it or not. I do like the bit of yellow mustard in this because it creates a light swash of pungent character against what is largely a very common blend of marinades and seasonings. It's just enough to make it unique while still keeping the overall flavor familiar. But even though it's a largely tried-and-true taste profile, it still manages to separate itself from the other gourmet brands by giving you more of that profile in greater intensity, even a light bit of spicy heat, and tossing in touch of that pungent mustard for attitude. It's a jerky well-suited for that part of the country where folks never stop passing the salt & pepper around the table.

Rating: Good (4/5)