The Patriot Brands Beef Jerky - Smokies with Cheese and Peppers

A month ago, we reviewed the Little Smokies from The Patriot Brands. Today, we have their "Smokies with Cheese and Peppers" variety of the same.

The Patriot Brands Beef Jerky is a new brand that launched in February of 2018 by James Napier of Cuba, MO. The company also markets a line of hot sauces under the same brand. Napier seems well-known and well-liked by many as a patriot with his beard dyed red, white, and blue. The name "Patriot Brands" stems from his overwhelming support of the United States and the people who have fought for it. He's associated with "The Patriot Church", a congregation also based out of Cuba, MO.

These "Smokies with Cheese and Peppers" flavor are described by the company as a blend of jalapeno peppers and cheddar cheese, going on to say that they're, "smoked cured". They actually have lots of tiny cheese chunks and jalapeno bits mixed into the meat.

Ingredients

Pork, beef, pasteurized processed cheddar cheese, powder cellulose, potassium sorbate, natamycin preservative, jalapeno peppers, salt, spices, dextrose, garlic powder, citric acid, sodium nitrite.

Review

The first flavors I pick up on the tongue is a light salt, with a touch of tanginess coming in. There's a light bit of heat building. The chewing brings on that cured meat flavor with a fair amount of salt. The jalapeno becomes more noticeable. The cheddar cheese takes on form, while also creating a more creamy chewing. The tanginess develops into a vinegar-like profile. Touches of garlic linger in the background.

For being marketed as "Smokies with Cheese and Peppers", the cheese flavor is fairly well noticeable once you get into the chewing, as is the jalapeno too. The cheddar creates a more creamy chewing texture. The jalapeno delivers a light spicy heat, one that I would rate as "mild medium" on our heat scale (level 2/5). It has more of the pickled jalapeno flavor.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is very much similar to the company's other line of Smokies, which is a vinegar tanginess, along with a cured meat flavor, and a light level of salt, but with a noticeable cheddar cheese and jalapeno, over a light level of heat.

These sticks are also just as thick as the regular Little Smokies. Compared to meat sticks from other brands, these are about the circumference of a cigar, and maybe just as long, or maybe an inch longer. They have a firm feel and chewing, and even a little bit of snap to the bite. They are also very meaty, and due to its thicker size, is almost like chewing pieces of real steak.

Verdict

These Smokies with Cheese and Peppers from The Patriot Brands are just like the regular variety, thick, meaty, chewy, with a good deal of meat flavors and a tangy, vinegar-like profile. These are just a bit more spicy, though still not quite hot. If you love meat sticks, you'll love how much more thick these are compared to other brands. Just eating a couple of these sticks will fill you up and tide you over 'til the next meal. They're not greasy like the big brands, but meaty and chewy. If you want something that burns more hot, these won't do it for you. But if you just want a little bit of spice to add to you meat-chewing addiction, these are just right.

Rating: Good (4/5)