The Patriot Brands - Little Smokies Hot

A few weeks ago, we reviewed the Little Smokies from The Patriot Brands. Today, we have their "hot" 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 "Little Smokies Hot" flavor are summed as, "Warm but Wonderfully filled with the best Spices available", going on to say that they're, "Smoke cured to perfection."

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Garlic Pepper

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Garlic Pepper" variety is described by the company as being, "paired with our special garlic marinade", going on to say that it's sprinkled with garlic bits, and that, "you’ll definitely feel its strong earthy and pungent taste with every bite".

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Bovino Crispy Grass-Fed Beef Jerky

Bovino Crispy Grass-Fed Beef Jerky is a new beef jerky brand that launched in 2017 by Trisha Paternite based out of San Francisco, CA. It's thin-style jerky for those who like it dry and crispy.

The idea came about when Trisha and her husband would frequently visit his Dad in Cleveland, OH and enjoy samples of his homemade jerky. Whey they brought some of it home to their friends in California, and learned how so many people craved it, they realized there was a business waiting to happen. Trisha and her husband took his Dad's recipe, but sliced it more thin with the idea of making it crispy. Since then, their business has been one of those worthy enough to make it into La Cocina, San Francisco's food-business incubator, and are currently selling it from their website.

Bovino Crispy Grass-Fed Beef Jerky is marked as, "no sugar", "no preservatives", and "gluten-free", along with, of course, "grass fed". It also uses all organic ingredients, though at this time it's not marked with a certified-organic label.

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Country Butcher Beef Jerky - Sweet Teriyaki

Country Butcher is a brand that's been around since 2001 (based on our research). The company itself did not send us samples for review; we were provided samples by one of their online retailers. Country Butcher was started by Ken Croucher, based out of Placentia, CA.

Croucher has been making jerky since 1974, and perfected his recipe while working at a grocery store where he could offer samples to customers and gather feedback. He's been relying on the same recipe ever since. According to online documents, Croucher developed a beef jerky recipe for Perky Jerky. Perky Jerky grew to fame by offering the world's first energy-infused jerky, using Croucher's recipe, and today they're one of the biggest jerky brands on the market. Country Butcher currently sells online through Amazon and eBay, and a variety of other outlets.

This Sweet Teriyaki variety is marked as being made from "Brisket". It's also marked, "Gluten Free" and "All Natural".

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Country Butcher Beef Jerky - Lemon Pepper

Country Butcher is a brand that's been around since 2001 (based on our research). The company itself did not send us samples for review; we were provided samples by one of their online retailers. Country Butcher was started by Ken Croucher, based out of Placentia, CA.

Croucher has been making jerky since 1974, and perfected his recipe while working at a grocery store where he could offer samples to customers and gather feedback. He's been relying on the same recipe ever since. According to online documents, Croucher developed a beef jerky recipe for Perky Jerky. Perky Jerky grew to fame by offering the world's first energy-infused jerky, using Croucher's recipe, and today they're one of the biggest jerky brands on the market. Country Butcher currently sells online through Amazon and eBay, and a variety of other outlets.

This Lemon Pepper variety is marked as, "Original" indicating it's the company's flagship flavor. It's also marked, "Gluten Free" and "All Natural".

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Jeff's Famous Jerky - Smoked Paprika Steak Tapas

Jeff's Famous Jerky recently released this new flavor, Smoked Paprika Steak Tapas. Based out of Mission Viejo, CA, Jeff's Famous Jerky is a brand owned by Jeff's Famous Foods, Inc.

The company started up in 2010 when Jeff Richards decided to make a business from his favorite snack food, jerky. Since the 1970s, Richards has been making his own jerky, getting better year after year, similar to like a 40-year old bourbon. Professionally, Richards has spent his career in the restaurant business and also coaches entrepreneurs through a consulting business.

This Smoked Paprika Steak Tapas is made using "super premium authentic smoked paprika imported from Spain" according to Jeff himself.

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Smoke Shack Jerky - Safari Jerky

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

This Safari Jerky is described by the company as a, "spicy African-style beauty featuring ginger, cayenne pepper, and cumin", going on to say that it's spicy hot.

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Peppered Orange Teriyaki

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Peppered Orange Teriyaki" variety is described by the company as being, "marinated in a combination of orange, pepper and teriyaki", going on to say that it has a, "nice Mandarin taste".

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Smoke Shack Jerky - Fuman Chew

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

This "Fuman Chew" is described by the company as a, "spicy blend of Japanese-style jerky with a fierce roundhouse kick".

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Crazy Horse Jerky - Meat Sticks

New from Crazy Horse Jerky is this line of Meat Sticks. They come in a variety of flavors, including this Original, but also Hot and Cheese & Meat.

Crazy Horse Jerky was founded by Dave Wenrich and Cara Wenrich in Hellam, PA. They started making jerky using an old family recipe that Dave got from his father, and eventually launched this business from it. Wenrich says he comes from a long line of farmers in Berks County, PA where they smoked their own meat using maple, oak, and fruit woods. He continues the same process today, using the same smoking processes, but with USDA bottom round.

This Original variety of their Meat Sticks is described as having, "a nice smokey flavor and a lite snap", going on to say that they're gluten free.

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Joe's Wicked Good Jerky - Regular Joe

Joe's Wicked Good Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Joe's Wicked Good Jerky Corporation, based out of Redding, CA. It was started by the husband and wife duo of Joe Nixt and Traci Nixt, who launched the brand in October 2014.

At the time, Joe had been making his own jerky for over 20 years. He's share it with friends and co-workers from his contracting business. When Traci lost her secretarial position, the couple decided to make a go at running a jerky company. I have all four of the existing flavors, starting with this "Regular Joe".

The company describes it as, "This is no regular jerky", and claiming that it has, "a ton of flavor without the spice".

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Two Brothers Jerky - Sweet Ginger Teriyaki

We reviewed Two Brothers Jerky a couple years ago, but they're back with a new recipe.

The brand is the collaborative effort of two brothers separated at birth, Paul Brock and Eddie Wales. After growing up never knowing about the other, they one discovered they each had a brother. After they reunited, they took a trip out to a lake and realized they both loved beef jerky, and both had this crazy entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, Two Brothers Jerky was born. Now based out of both Durham, NC and Columbia, SC, Two Brothers Jerky features North Carolina grass fed, grass-finished beef, and made with no nitrates.

This "Sweet Ginger Teriyaki" is described as, "sweet and tangy", and claims to have, "the whole family clamoring for more", being made with fresh ginger as the star ingredient, along with brown sugar and soy.

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Crazy Horse Jerky - Chicken Jerky

The newest offering from Crazy Horse Jerky is this Chicken Jerky, available in both Original and Cajun flavors.

Chicken Jerky seems to be the new Turkey Jerky these days as more and more brands are adding it to their product line up. But where Turkey Jerky was originally introduced as the healthier alternative to beef, Chicken Jerky seems to have the flavor satisfaction that turkey never had.

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Korean Barbecue

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Korean Barbecue" variety is described by the company as showcasing, "the use of Korean barbecue sauce as a main ingredient", going on to say that they, "blended it up with a few more spices", and then fused it with their old fashioned recipe.

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Smoke Shack Jerky - Snack Sticks

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

These snack sticks are described by the company as being 60/40 Pork & Beef, cured, and smoked. They come in two flavors, Jammin Jerk and Fuman Chew.

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Biltong USA - Spicy Garlic Droëwors

Biltong USA was among the earliest brands of American-made biltong, dating back to 1996. South African immigrants, Dawid Joubert and Salome Joubert founded the company in Stallings, NC based on the same family recipe that dated back into the 1600s. Over the years, their biltong products helped launched a new meat snack category in the States.

In January 2018, Biltong USA was acquired by a rival biltong brand, Stryve Foods. However, Biltong USA continues on under its own brand, and is still manufactured at its original USDA inspected facility in Stallings.

This Spicy Garlic Droëwors, according to the company, come from their large, fresh pieces of solid beef muscle, and is then ground coarse, seasoned, stuffed into lamb casing, and finally cured. Droëwors is a South African-style meat stick. These are the company's normal sized stick, they also make a thicker variety.

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Gary West Meats - 50/50 Steak Strips

Gary West Meats recently released a new variety of beef jerky dubbed, "50/50" which is a reference to using 50% less sugar and salt from their standard recipe. We reviewed Gary West Meats several years ago, see their reviews here.

Gary West Meats is a brand of smoked meats that has been in business since 1966, operated by a company of the same name, based in Jacksonville, OR. It's a second generation-run family business first started by, none other than, Gary West. The company's meat products goes back further to Gary's grandfather Fred West, who taught the old family recipes to Gary. In 2004, West sold the business to his daughter and son-in-law. In addition to jerky, the company also makes smoked hams, turkeys, and sausages.

This 50/50 line is targeted to the health conscious and active lifestyle demographic, perhaps moving it closer to the Keto and low carb dieters. The package is also marked as, "Gluten Free".

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Walt's Beef Jerky

Walt's Beef Jerky is the creation of Walter Barber, a brand he launched in 2007, based out of Nutley, NJ. Barber is a professional butcher with over 40 years experience. He had long been making jerky as a hobby using his own marinades and seasoning blends.

Walt specializes in thin sliced jerky, smoked over real wood. He built his own smokers and actually holds a patent on his unique smoking process. Today, he has over 30 flavors of beef jerky and beef sticks.

The company sent me 5 of their flavors, but each package is small, maybe only an ounce in weight. Thus, instead of writing a separate review of each, I opted to bundle them together in one review.

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Smoke Shack Jerky - Dojo Mojo

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

This Dojo Mojo is described by the company as an, "Asian BBQ with tangy, smoky flavor and a bit of sweetness", going on to say that it's mild in spice.

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Sea Salt, Honey & Pepper

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Sea Salt, Honey & Pepper" variety is described by the company as being, "seasoned with freshly cracked peppercorns, sea salt, spices and sweet honey", going on to say that it, "packs an extra kick to its blend and taste".

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Grill Your Ass Off Jerky - Sweet and Spicy

Grill Your Ass Off is a line of jerky and seasonings that launched in 2016 by Army Veterans, Jason Murff, based out of Hutto, TX. Murff had actually started with a line of seasonings and just now expanded into jerky.

The idea for his brand stems back into his Army days when he developed seasonings for his brothers in arms. After the service, he went into college to sharpen his business skills and went on to launch his new brand. Murff donates a portion of his proceeds to charities that benefit military and first responders.

This Sweet and Spicy jerky is described by Murff as a, "combination of soy and sugar with a surprising spice", going on to say that it's for, "for lovers of sweet meat".

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Tropical Fusion

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Tropical Fusion" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as a Mango-Pineapple flavor, going on to describe it as, "a great taste of the tropics with flavors of pineapple, mango and teriyaki for a sweet, citrus flavor".

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Smoke Shack Jerky - Smokin Maple

Smoke Shack Jerky describes itself as a "small Upstate NY kitchen" that launched in 2017 by Jonathan Brown of Rochester, NY. Their unique angle is smoking jerky over real wood, and using thicker cuts of meat for a beefier chew. They don't use any smoke flavoring, and no preservatives. The company also has a line of smoked nuts.

Brown also chose to develop jerky recipes based on cultures found around the world as opposed to the more common profiles found with mass-produced brands.

This Smokin Maple is described by the company as, "Maple meets meat, smoky meets sweet", going on to say that it's mild in spice.

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Boysenberry

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Boysenberry" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as having, "the sweetness of berries and the smoky, peppery flavor of our premium brisket beef", going on to say, "the boysenberry’s sweetness has a little bit more of a tangy taste which perfectly blends well with the jerky’s smoky lean meat".

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The Patriot Brands Beef Jerky - Outlaw Western

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.

This "Outlaw Western" flavor is described by the company as, "...a great smoke filled flavor that is nearly perfect", going on to say that it's "blended with a touch of Chipotle", and that it will steal your memories of other Western flavors.

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The Jerky Hut - Habanero Teriyaki

The Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago.

Much of its jerky is sold through independent "retail licensees", who are the folks running the booths at the shows. It's parent company, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, runs its own USDA inspected facility.

This Habanero Teriyaki Beef Jerky variety warns chewers, "Get ready for a Teriyaki volcano erupting on your taste buds!", going on to say that it has a, "Hot heat range due to single portion of Habanero Peppers".

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Crazy Horse Beef Jerky - Original

Crazy Horse Beef Jerky is a brand made by Dave Wenrich in Hellam, PA. He started making this jerky about nine months ago, based on a old family recipe that he got from his father.

Wenrich says he comes from a long line of farmers in Berks County, PA where they smoked their own meat. So using the family recipe he tried out some jerky and thought it was pretty good. And after receiving positive feedback from friends, he's been selling it directly through an eBay store and in some local shops around town.

Dave smokes all of his jerky from USDA certified bottom round in a homemade smoke house using maple, oak, and fruit woods.

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Legacy Meats - Sweet & Smokey

Legacy Meats is a family-run meat-distribution business located in Kersey, Colorado. Ben Elliott, who built a career raising cattle, launched this business in 2012 when the trend for buying locally-sourced foods gained traction. Last year, Ben and wife opened up a store in Kersey.

Legacy Meats supplies grass-fed steaks and chops to local customers, but has built a following across the world. Recently, they added beef jerky to their product line up. You can purchase jerky packages individually, or through their own Jerky subscription program.

This Sweet & Smokey Beef Jerky is described by them as, "...uses a mix of 'Awesome Cinnamon' and Chipotle flavoring.".

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Wicked Cutz Beef Jerky - Volcanic Jalapeno

Wicked Cutz Beef Jerky is a new brand, having debuted just a couple of months ago. It was launched by Branch Warren, a well-known body builder who has won numerous competitions over past couple of decades. Warren also owns other companies that market apparel and body building supplements.

Warren's move into beef jerky touches upon his heritage in the Texas cattle industry going back 150 years. He grew up on a cattle ranch and in his youth spent time as a ranch hand before moving on to body-building. Now in his retirement, he sought to start his own jerky brand and touch upon his cattlemen roots.

This Volcanic Jalapeno is described by the company as, "sweet and smooth first bite (that) slowly builds into a hot and spicy eruption", going on to say that it, "erupts like a boxing kangaroo with a caffeine addiction".

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J&K Beef Jerky - Prime Rib

J&K Beef Jerky is a brand owned by J&K Distributors based out of Huntington Beach, CA. J&K Distributors is an actual distributing company that stocks convenience stores throughout Southern California. J&K has been around since 1980.

Like most distributing companies, J&K offers several brands of jerky for its store clients, but also offers its own house brand. According to the company, they've offered this jerky over the past 20 years.

This Prime Rib beef jerky is not otherwise described by the company, nor comes with any claims aside from a photo of a juicy prime of beef on the label.

Ingredients

Beef, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, bouillon beef base, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, salt, paprika, seasoning salt, liquid smoke

Review

The first flavors that hit my palate is a light sweet, followed by a savory marinade that soon develops into a beefy soy sauce laden with onion seasoning. The chewing brings on some natural meat flavors, and introduces a whisp of cayenne spice at the end.

For being marketed as "Prime Rib", there's a light reminiscence of the popular weekend steakhouse special, particularly the fatty, outer edges of a 12 ounce slice encrusted with seasonings. It does not, however, taste exactly like a slice of prime rib, nor anything close to the center portion. There's no pungent horseradish in this jerky, just a modest recognition of au jus sauce in the marinade.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a salty marinade comparable to a beefy flavored soy sauce with lots of seasonings and a bit of sticky sweet. It's peppery but also spicy with a light level of cayenne heat, registering as mild medium on our heat scale (level 2 out of 5). Think of it more as a seasoned steak variety of jerky than prime rib.

These slices of meat are chewy, but not tough. They have a faint bit of stickiness on the surface, but not enough to gunk up your fingers. There's light levels of stringiness in the chewing, but otherwise this jerky has a meaty chew that takes on a steak-like texture. I do see some streaks of gristle in the larger slices.

Verdict

This Prime Rib beef jerky from J&K may usher in some familiarity with a 12 ounce slice of the chef's special, perhaps with a light au jus flavor, or even the peppery, fatty edges of an end cut. But otherwise, these are not actual slices of prime rib, just beef jerky meant to mimic that roasted beef style. It kind of salty due to its stronger seasonings, as well as peppery with a light bit of cayenne heat. Think of it more as a seasoned steak style of jerky with a beefy soy sauce marinade. Chewy, yet easy to get through, this stuff has a meaty consistency with a steak-like texture. Definitely a more manly offering from J&K that you'll want to wash down with something cold and refreshing.


Rating: Good (4/5)

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Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Original

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Original" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as, "its mellow smoky flavor complements the jerky’s lean meat", going on to say that it's, "perfect for people who love the classic taste of beef jerky".

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Legacy Meats - Teriyaki Beef Jerky

Legacy Meats is a family-run meat-distribution business located in Kersey, Colorado. Ben Elliott, who built a career raising cattle, launched this business in 2012 when the trend for buying locally-sourced foods gained traction. Last year, Ben and wife opened up a store in Kersey.

Legacy Meats supplies grass-fed steaks and chops to local customers, but has built a following across the world. Recently, they added beef jerky to their product line up. You can purchase jerky packages individually, or through their own Jerky subscription program.

This Teriyaki Beef Jerky is described by them as simply, "a traditional and favorite flavor".

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The Jerky Hut - Peppered Beef Stick

The Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago.

Much of its jerky is sold through independent "retail licensees", who are the folks running the booths at the shows. It's parent company, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, runs its own USDA inspected facility.

These Pepper Beef Sticks are marketed as having a, "Natural Smoke Flavor with a little Cracked Black Pepper to give it a bit of bite!!"

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J&K Beef Jerky - Sweet and Spicy

J&K Beef Jerky is a brand owned by J&K Distributors based out of Huntington Beach, CA. J&K Distributors is an actual distributing company that stocks convenience stores throughout Southern California. J&K has been around since 1980.

Like most distributing companies, J&K stocks several brands of jerky for its store clients, but also offers its own house brand. According to the company, they've offered this jerky over the past 20 years.

This Sweet & Spicy beef jerky is claimed to be moderately spicy, and offering "the best of both worlds", sweet and spicy.

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Shiner's Stash Jerky - Black Pepper & Garlic

Shiner's Stash Jerky is a brand launched by Swen Altis, based out of Conover, NC. Marketed with the tagline, "Made in the foothills of North Carolina", Altis started Shiner's Stash in 2016 after a successful career as an executive chef, working in professional sports for major league baseball teams, hockey teams, and football teams.

Shiner's Stash uses 100% Prime Beef Eye-Round & Pork Loin, sliced thick and cut against the grain. They make all their jerky themselves, in their own USDA inspected facility, as opposed to contracting it out to a co-packer. They currently have 19 varieties of beef and pork jerky. We only have 5 here to review, starting with this one.

This Black Pepper & Garlic is described by company as, "a perfect spice blend of coarse black pepper & freshly minced garlic", going on to say that it pairs well with a stout beer, heavy body red wines, honey bourbon, & clear corn liquor.

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Chops Beef Jerky - Original

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 Original is described by the team as having, "...slight overtones of freshly ground black pepper, with a small hint of brown sugar..." and that it's a, "classic favorite of our fans".

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Crooked Creek Farm - Mango Habanero Pork Jerky

Crooked Creek Farm is a small family run farm located in the rolling hills of Pylesville, MD, operated by Mike and Tiffany Schleupner. There they raise pasture-raised pigs for ribs, sausage, and pork chops. In 2017, they added pork jerky to their product line up.

All of their pork jerky is made from pigs with no added hormones, no antibiotics, and no growth promotants. It's currently selling at farmers markets around the Harford County, MD area, as well from their website.

This Mango Habanero Pork Jerky variety is described by Crooked Creek Farm as, "a perfect combo of spicy and sweet", going on to say that it's made from 100% American hogs.

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Blu Collar Meat Co. - Holy Hot XXX

Blu Collar Meat Co. is a start-up jerky brand launched last April 2018 by Steven and Brandy Reinecke in Lancaster, CA. Marketed as "100% homemade beef jerky", Reinecke says they use only locally sourced meats and ingredients.

The name, "Blu Collar Meat Co." makes reference to Steven's profession as a welder. "We represent the working class, and everybody putting in work ... whatever your profession, we got the jerky for you".

This Holy Hot XXX variety is marinated in habanero, jalapeno, ghost pepper, and Carolina Reaper chiles for 24 hours. The company says, "This is no meat to play around with", and "Not for the faint of heart".

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The Jerky Hut - Jalapeno Pepper Beef Sticks

The Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago.

Much of its jerky is sold through independent "retail licensees", who are the folks running the booths at the shows. It's parent company, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, runs its own USDA inspected facility.

These Jalapeno Pepper Beef Sticks are marketed as having a natural smoke flavor with, "a little Cracked Black Pepper, some red pepper and a dash of Jalapeno chips to give it a Tex-Mex zest!"

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The Jerky Hut - Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky

The Jerky Hut is a brand of Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. The brand which is often seen at boat shows, gun shows, car shows, and trade shows of every kind, was started over 30 years ago.

Much of its jerky is sold through independent "retail licensees", who are the folks running the booths at the shows. It's parent company, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, runs its own USDA inspected facility.

This Hot Cowgirl Beef Jerky variety is marketed as having a "medium hot heat range due to the infusion of hot crushed red chili peppers", and goes on to say that it has a "rich smoky flavor from Oregon hardwoods".

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Crooked Creek Farm - Pork Jerky

Crooked Creek Farm is a small family run farm located in the rolling hills of Pylesville, MD, operated by Mike and Tiffany Schleupner. There they raise pasture-raised pigs for ribs, sausage, and pork chops. In 2017, they added pork jerky to their product line up.

All of their pork jerky is made from pigs with no added hormones, no antibiotics, and no growth promotants. It's currently selling at farmers markets around the Harford County, MD area, as well from their website.

This Original Pork Jerky variety is described by Crooked Creek Farm as being, "sweet and soft", and made from 100% American hogs.

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Blu Collar Meat Co. - Sweet Bourbon

Blu Collar Meat Co. is a start-up jerky brand launched last April 2018 by Steven and Brandy Reinecke in Lancaster, CA. Marketed as "100% homemade beef jerky", Reinecke says they use only locally sourced meats and ingredients.

The name, "Blu Collar Meat Co." makes reference to Steven's profession as a welder. "We represent the working class, and everybody putting in work ... whatever your profession, we got the jerky for you".

This Sweet Bourbon variety is described as, "A subtle sweet, yet smooth flavor of bourbon infused jerky, that'll keep you coming back for more." The label has a photo of Maker's Mark, suggesting that's what it was marinated in.

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Brothers Artisanal Jerky

Brothers Artisanal Jerky is a new startup still in fundraising mode, based out of New Bedford, MA. It was started by two brothers, Philip and Pierre Beauregard, along with a team of friends and advisors. Philip brought in his background starting companies while Pierre brings in his craft in cooking and cuisine.

The two came across a very old recipe for beef jerky, "Civil War parchment paper old", according to Philip, and decided it was so awesome it needed to brought to market. The challenge was making it taste exactly the way it did back then. So, they had to source locally grown meats, use natural ingredients, and even slice and marinate using time-old traditions, just to make it taste and chew the way it was meant to.

You can find them online on Kickstarter, and on Instagram and Twitter. Currently, they have four flavors perfected, "No.5 Original Beef", "Carolina Dip Turkey", "Burning Pig", and "Ginger Dumpling Pork". Because Brothers Artisanal Jerky is not available to the public, I'm withholding ratings. However, you can get some by going to their Kickstarter Page, and pledging as little as $20.00.

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Western's Snack Sticks - Healthier For You Sticks

Western's Smokehouse has been in business since 1978, when it was founded by Sam Western, a man who built a career as a butcher. Originally starting as a local meat market, Western's Smokehouse struck it rich when it introduced it's first meat stick, "Western's Hot Dogs".

Renaming them to "Snack Sticks", the company expanded to meet demand by building a larger facility. Production of snack sticks remains as the company's primary focus today.

These "Healthier For You" line of Snack Sticks are made with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no preservatives. They are also gluten-free, soy-free, and MSG-free. The beef stick in particular is made from grass-fed beef.

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People's Choice Beef Jerky - Sweet Chili Habanero

People's Choice Beef Jerky has a new flavor, "Sweet Chili Habanero".

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.

This Sweet Chili Habanero is described by the company as "...a bright fruit sweetness, almost tropical, that slowly accompanies the savory spice blend and the natural meat flavor."

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Tibbs Beef Jerky - Teriyaki

Tibbs Beef Jerky is the creation of Steve Tibbs, who launched the business in 2016, based out of Bakersfield, CA. Tibbs descends from a line of barbecue grill masters and even dabbles in charcuterie.

But, the story behind Tibbs' entry into the jerky business was weight loss. Reaching 260 pounds at one point, he decided to forge together his love for meat snacks with hitting the gym. He started making his own jerky using whole foods, fresh beef, and healthful ingredients. When his friends tried his jerky, Tibbs realized he had a gold mine on his hands. Today, Tibbs jerky is sold in stores throughout the greater Bakersfield area, as well as online from its website, and now through a monthly subscription service.

This "Teriyaki" is described by the company as, "Not Your Typical Teriyaki", going on to say that it's, "Hand Crafted Beef Jerky with only the finest ingredients, No sugars added No Msg, No Nitrates, Perfect for Keto diets".

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Western's Smokehouse Snack Sticks

Western's Smokehouse has been in business since 1978, when it was founded by Sam Western, a man who built a career as a butcher. Originally starting as a local meat market, Western's Smokehouse struck it rich when it introduced it's first meat stick, "Western's Hot Dogs".

Renaming them to "Snack Sticks", the company expanded to meet demand by building a larger facility. Production of snack sticks remains as the company's primary focus today.

In addition to these 1 ounce sized snack sticks, Western's also offers them in 2 ounce sizes called, "Big'un" as well as a line of natural snack sticks, both of which we'll review later.

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