Bakke Brothers Brand Jerky - Ghost Peppered

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill's founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Ghost Peppered Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say that it is, "if you like it hot, this one is for you".

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Trailhead Beef Jerky - Black Pepper

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 this Black Pepper beef jerky.

Trailhead describes this as, "The finest blend of herbs and spices finished with the finest cracked black pepper corns give a multiple level flavour experience."

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Keeno's Beef Jerky - Mild

Keno's Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Gary Keeney, baesed out of Wichita Falls, TX. Established in 2010, Keeno's manufacturing process is state inspected, and the company runs an outlet store in the same building.

Keeney got into the jerky business while working at Dell Computers, where he sold bags of his homemade stuff to fellow employees. After getting laid off, he went into business for himself with the aid of a $17,000.00 prize for winning the IdeaWF competition hosted by Midwestern State University. Keeney also won the 2014 Peppers and More World Jerky Contest.

This "Mild" jerky is described by Keeno's as "a crowd pleaser of both young and old", assuming to be flavored to suit all palates and tolerances.

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Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

One the newest jerky brands on the market is Chef Craig's Beef Jerky. A product of CJM Products, it's based out of West Kingston, RI.

It's the idea of Craig Mitchell, who a few years ago, had sent me samples of his own homemade jerky, with the intent of launching a business someday. Mitchell received his Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University, and has been cooking professionally since 1978.

As of this review, the only flavor Chef Craig's offers is this Original.

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Jerky Jerks - Whiskey BBQ Beef Jerky

Jerky Jerks is a business owned by Tracy Hood, based out of Bakersfield, CA. It started up selling Jerky Hut brand snacks at trade shows and farmers markets across the USA. These days, Tracy has extended the Jerky Jerks brand to its very own line of jerky.

Jerky Jerks is made in a USDA inspected facility and uses no added MSG.

This Whiskey BBQ variety is described by them as having, "a touch of bourbon flavoring", giving this a, "a sweet and Unique, satisfying taste". They go on to say that this jerky is made from Prime Top Sirloin.

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Crazy Horse Jerky Cyber Monday Sale!

 

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Lawless Jerky - Pork BBQ Spare Rib

The newest flavor from Lawless Jerky is this Pork BBQ Spare Rib. See our reviews of other Lawless Jerky flavors here.

Lawless Jerky is a new brand created by a licensed attorney named Matthew Tolnick of Santa Monica, CA. Making jerky started from his days in college when he and his fraternity friends needed sustenance through long evenings of studying. But today, Lawless Jerky has grown into a thriving business and Tolnick has moved full steam ahead with it, producing his jerky in a USDA inspected facility.

This Pork BBQ Spare Rib jerky is the first non-beef product from Lawless.

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Elk Jerky

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse describes this Elk Jerky as being made in a, "new natural Gluten Free recipe".

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Lawless Craft Jerky - Mango Habanero

Among the newest flavors from Lawless Craft Jerky is this Mango Habanero.

Lawless Jerky is a brand owned and operated by Lawless Jerky, LLC based out of Santa Monica, CA. It was started by Matthew Tolnick, a former attorney who held a not-so-secret passion for making chewy chunks of dehydrated beef. After a stint as a legal counselor, he decided to throw his hat into the jerky industry and start his own business.

This Mango Habanero variety is described by the company as a "one-two punch of heat and sweet", going on to say it's "fruity from natural mango flavors", and "sweet from brown sugar", and "spicy from bright orange habanero peppers".

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4 Seasons Jerky - Jalapeno Spice

4 Seasons Jerky is a new brand that hit the market last month. Launched by a guy named, "Thom", short for Thomas, the company is based out of Highland, CA. Thom is an avid outdoorsman, and is outside all year-round, hiking, boating, snowboarding, to name a few.

4 Seasons Jerky uses lean round or flank cuts of meat, marinated for 24 hours.

This Jalapeno Spice is described by the company simply as, "Green with spice and everything nice!"

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Jerky's Gourmet - Craft Beer

Jerky's Gourmet is a new brand of jerky, founded by Tim Gerstman and Andria Taylor, based out of San Diego, CA. Gerstman, who transplated to San Diego from the East Coast 8 years ago, met Andria who also happened to love beef jerky. The two joined forces and launched Jerky's Gourmet.

The pair can be found at farmers markets across the San Diego area doling out taste samples. Their jerky is also sold at various stores and shops across town, and also sell from their website.

This "Craft Beer" jerky is part of their "Top Shelf Line" of alcohol-infused jerky, and was inspired by San Diego's love of craft beer. According to Jerky's Gourmet, "It packs a bold punch of traditional spices and, of course, lots of premium beer. We use the best domestic pale ale in our marinade to bring the on-tap flavor of hops and barley that will make your mouth water!"

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Pearson Ranch Summer Sausages

Pearson Ranch is a family owned ranch specializing beef cattle and exotic meats since 1959. In 2000, the ranch shifted operations to snack meats, primarily sausages and jerky.

Jerky Dynasty is now offering them online, and with Christmas coming up, we thought we'd feature them as ideas for stocking stuffers.

These summer sausages are all preservative free, with no nitrites, no MSG, and are gluten free.

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Peppered Beef Jerky

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill's founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Peppered Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say that it is, "slightly sweet with plenty of pepper".

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Redneck Steak Beef Jerky - Moonshine

Next up for Redneck Steak Beef Jerky is this Moonshine variety. See my other review of their Traditional variety.

Redneck Steak Beef Jerky was created by Trae Stokes, based out of Pinellas Park, FL. Trae started the business as a way to earn a living after mortgage crash of 2008 busted his contracting business. Having grown up in the South all his life, he had mastered the skills of smoking meats. On a whim, Trae had smoked up batch of jerky and sold it at a local arts and craft show, and thus was born Redneck Steak Beef Jerky.

This Moonshine variety does not contain actual moonshine or alcohol, instead it was named thus for its little kick of heat at the end. These slices of meat are basted in sweet chili sauce, and smoked over real oak wood for 4-6 hours.

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Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Black Thai

The newest flavor to come out of Chef Craig's Beef Jerky is this Black Thai. Read our review of their Original Beef Jerky.

Based out of West Kingston, RI, Chef Craig's Beef Jerky was originally started by Craig Mitchell, who holds a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University. He's been cooking professionally since 1978. Chef Craig's Beef Jerky was a way to extend his career in cooking and cuisine.

This Black Thai variety is described by the company as "The same chewy beef jerky with a taste of Asian spiciness; it leaves a lingering warm sensation in your mouth."

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Jedidiah's Jerky - Hot Cowboy

Based on the company's top selling variety, this Hot Cowboy from Jedidiah's Jerky takes the same recipe and throws on some red chile pepper to sharpen the spurs on this here buckaroo.

Jedidiah's Jerky was started by David Coffey, a veteran of the beef jerky business, having taken his first bite of the industry in 1984, when he went to work for Polley's Beef Jerky. In 2005, he went to work for himself by starting Jedidiah's Jerky. Based out of Beatty, NV, Coffey also runs a chain of beef jerky outlets called, "Jed's Jerky", with locations throughout Nevada and California.

The "Cowboy style" from Jedidiah's Jerky is meant to be a throwback to the old days of campfire cooking, saddle sores, and pesky indians. It's like a "man's jerky", with no sugar added, just simple seasonings and lots of peppery flavor.

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Keeno's Beef Jerky - Bloody Mary

Keno's Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Gary Keeney, baesed out of Wichita Falls, TX. Established in 2010, Keeno's manufacturing process is state inspected, and the company runs an outlet store in the same building.

Keeney got into the jerky business while working at Dell Computers, where he sold bags of his homemade stuff to fellow employees. After getting laid off, he went into business for himself with the aid of a $17,000.00 prize for winning the IdeaWF competition hosted by Midwestern State University. Keeney also won the 2014 Peppers and More World Jerky Contest.

This "Bloody Mary" jerky claims to be based on the same ingredients as Keeno's Salsa Beef Jerky that we reviewed last week, but throws in some Bloody Mary Mix. It also claims to be "Medium Heat".

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Whiskey BBQ Jerky

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

This "Whiskey BBQ" is part of a series of alcohol-infused jerky varieties recently launched by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse. Others include Maple Bourbon, and Saki-Teriyaki. The package is marked, "Gluten Free".

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4 Seasons Jerky - Teriyaki Lime

4 Seasons Jerky is a new brand that hit the market last month. Launched by a guy named, "Thom", short for Thomas, the company is based out of Highland, CA. Thom is an avid outdoorsman, and is outside all year-round, hiking, boating, snowboarding, to name a few.

4 Seasons Jerky uses lean round or flank cuts of meat, marinated for 24 hours.

This Teriyaki Lime is described by the company as, "...a splendid mix of Japanese teriyaki marination and citrus lime to give a delicious tangy sweet taste!"

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Jerky's Gourmet - Ghost Pepper

Jerky's Gourmet is a new brand of jerky, founded by Tim Gerstman and Andria Taylor, based out of San Diego, CA. Gerstman, who transplated to San Diego from the East Coast 8 years ago, met Andria who also happened to love beef jerky. The two joined forces and launched Jerky's Gourmet.

Their jerky is sold at various shops, bars, and venues across the San Diego area. However the two can be found at the Little Italy Farmers Market on Saturdays, doling out samples of their jerky.

This Ghost Pepper jerky is described as being "soy free" and "gluten free", and is balanced "with subtle hints of honey and pineapple".

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Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Jed's Famous BBQ

This "Jed's Famous BBQ" is a new flavor from Jedidiah's Jerky. It's part of their revamped line up of beef brisket jerky.

Jedidiah's Jerky is a brand that we reviewed before (read the reviews here). Some time ago, they reintroduced their line of jerky with new recipes and new branding, and moved their headquarters from Laughlin, NV to Beatty, NV. Jedidiah's Jerky also has since opened up a chain of beef jerky stores called, "Jed's Jerky" throughout Nevada and California.

This "Jed's Famous BBQ", we believe, replaces the company's previous, "Jed's BBQ". It seems that since then, his BBQ has gone famous.

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Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Cherry Chili

Grandpa's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Jacob Piercy, based out of Fishers, Indiana. Piercy remembers being a kid and watching his grandfather hanging deer meat for jerky. Eventually, his grandfather handed down the recipe and process.

Today, Piercy sells packages of Grandpa's Beef Jerky at farmers markets across Indiana and online too, allowing jerky fans across the USA to enjoy a family legacy.

This "Cherry Chili" is described as being made from, "Montmorency cherries and Thai chilies", and is marked as being, "Extra Hot".

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Bakke Brother Brand - Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill'founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Honey Jalapeno Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say that it has a, "spicy heat for a unique taste".

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Keeno's Beef Jerky - Salsa

Keno's Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Gary Keeney, baesed out of Wichita Falls, TX. Established in 2010, Keeno's manufacturing process is state inspected, and the company runs an outlet store in the same building.

Keeney got into the jerky business while working at Dell Computers, where he sold bags of his homemade stuff to fellow employees. After getting laid off, he went into business for himself with the aid of a $17,000.00 prize for winning the IdeaWF competition hosted by Midwestern State University. Keeney also won the 2014 Peppers and More World Jerky Contest.

This "Salsa" jerky is one of Keeno's best sellers, mixing red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, with traditional salsa ingredients, and is also claimed to be "Medium Heat"

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Two Chicks Beef Jerky - Classic

Two Chicks Beef Jerky is a brand of Two Chicks Specialty Goods, LLC, based out of San Rafael, CA. It was started by two women, Shannon and Breelyn, who embarked on a 4 1/2 month long road trip back in 2012, and stocked themselves up on homemade jerky.

Along the way, people they met tried their jerky and liked it enough to recommend they start a business. So when they returned home, they did just that. Two Chicks Beef Jerky has now been in operation a little over a year now, and is now carried in over 20 retail locations in Northern California.

The company claims, "Sometimes it is... all about the meat", referencing their reliance on grass-fed meat, locally sourced, with no preservatives, antibiotics, or added hormones. It's also marketed as gluten-free, and uses honey instead of refined sugar.

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Jerky by Art - Garlic

Jerky by Art was established by Arthur Sandoval in 2004, based out of Albuquerque, NM.

As an iron worker, Art started making carne seca (Mexican-style jerky) at home for his own pleasure. He would take some to work and sell it to co-workers. He was selling so much of it, that he bought more dehydrators. Before he knew it, he was producing jerky all day and night. And thus became, Jerky by Art.

This Garlic variety is said to be a favorite among the company's customers.

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Venison Jerky

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse says this Venison Jerky has , "No wild taste", and goes on to describe the flavor as, "Just a hint of tang with a little Black Pepper", and says the meat comes from, "slices of premium, tender VENISON prime steak".

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Jedidiah's Beef Brisket Jerky - Sweet & Spicy

Jedidiah's Jerky is a brand that we reviewed before (read the reviews here). Some time ago, they revamped their line of jerky with new recipes and new branding, and moved their headquarters to Laughlin, NV to Beatty, NV. Jedidiah's Jerky also has since opened up a chain of beef jerky stores called, "Jed's Jerky" throughout Nevada and California.

This new "Beef Brisket" line replaced the company's old "Private Reserve" line, which was also beef brisket. This new recipe has much less sodium than the previous recipe. You can read the previous review of that Sweet & Spicy here.

This "Sweet & Spicy" beef brisket jerky was also named the favorite jerky in an August 2010 issue of Maxim Magazine.

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Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Original Cajun

Grandpa's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Jacob Piercy, based out of Fishers, Indiana. Piercy remembers being a kid and watching his grandfather hanging deer meat for jerky. Eventually, his grandfather handed down the recipe and process.

Today, Piercy sells packages of Grandpa's Beef Jerky at farmers markets across Indiana and online too, allowing jerky fans across the USA to enjoy a family legacy.

This "Original Cajun" is described as tasting, "...as though it's straight from the Bayou.", and is marked as, "Medium".

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Jerky Dynasty - Black Pepper

Jerky Dynasty is a brand started by Chris Miller. It actually started a few years ago as an online retailer of jerky, offering brands like Lawless Jerky, Jeff's Famous Jerky, and others. Recently, the company launched its own line of jerky aptly named, "Jerky Dynasty".

According to Chris, Jerky Dynasty is "old fashioned", clarifying that it's hand cut, hung in a smoke house, with no liquid smoke.

This Black Pepper variety is described by the company simply as, "mouth-watering good".

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Beer Sausage Sticks

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill'founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

These "Beer Sausage Sticks" are made with, "...a flavorful dark locally made Oregon beer". The brand goes on to describe these sticks as having a, "Mild Smoky flavor with a hint of garlic."

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Country Archer Jerky - Cracked Pepper with Sea Salt

Country Archer Jerky is a well known brand in the meat snack industry, going back to 1977 when it became the private labeler for hundreds of brands over the decades. Now based in San Bernardino, CA, the company is leveraging its own brand and pushing its own line of jerky into stores across the country.

As the jerky market has migrated towards preservative-free, natural ingredients, so has Country Archer. The company claims it's jerky is handcrafted, made in small batches, using all natural ingredients.

This Cracked Pepper with Sea Salt flavor is simply described as having a "truckload of pepper", and is also marked as "gluten free".

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Wayne's Jerky - Ghost Pepper

New from Wayne's Jerky is this "Ghost Pepper" variety. See our other reviews of Wayne's Jerky.

Wayne's Jerky is a brand of Wayne's Jerky, LLC based out of Sobieski, WI. The company has been in business since 2006. The company advertises it's jerky as "Beef Jerky Bites", referring to the bite sized pieces they're cut into. It's also a chopped and formed type of jerky.

In addition to this "Ghost Pepper" variety, they also offer Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Teriyaki varieties.

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Braaitime - Spicy Dried Beef

Braaitime is a brand of gourmet cured meats based out of Keansburg, NJ. The company was started in 2005 by Warren Pala. Warren immigrated from South Africa in 2001 and sought to introduce South African-style meat snacks to Americans.

Warren claims to be the only brand of Biltong & Droëwors holding true to the old world methods. "All other makers of Biltong have followed the 'jerky' method in order to achive USDA approval. They cook the meat to a certain temperature for a certain amount of time". Warren was able to get USDA approval with the help of local Italians who had already convinced USDA inspectors that their prosciutto & capacolo are shelf stable.

Described by the company as "Spicy Dried Beef", these Chili Bites are more comparable to American style jerky, but cut into narrow strips and dried by hanging in the air.

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill's founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Scorpion Peppered Beef Jerky is made with Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers and is marked as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", going on to say, "So you think you want to go a little hotter?".

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Blank and Sons - Black Peppered Beef Jerky

Blank and Sons is a new brand of beef jerky that started up just over a year ago, based out of Nacogdoches, TX. It's run by Damon Blank and his wife Tammy, along with their sons Danton, Dalton, and Dagon. The family had been in the restaurant business from 1988 to 2002. They had wanted to remain in the food industry and opted to launch a jerky business.

Blank and Sons is themed after the State of Texas, and the flavors they offer are paired with various flags used throughout the Lone Star State's history. They claim their jerky is hand made in small batches, but is bold and big as their Texas-sized pride.

This "Black Peppered Beef Jerky" is marketed by the company as having a flavor, "as bold as the men who fought at the Alamo", offering a fresh cracked black pepper and a mild heat.

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Dave's Meat & Nuts - Root Beer Habanero Jerky

Dave's Meat & Nuts is a brand that launched in January 2015 after raising funds on Kickstarter last November. We published a review back then, but withheld ratings until the company went live.

The company is the brainchild of Dave Gadlin, who had spent a great deal of time working in New York City with some of the country's best chefs and restauranteurs. He took his expertise out to Napa, CA to focus on his two biggest snack food passions, jerky and peanuts. Dave claims his jerky to be smoked in a real smokehouse.

This "Root Beer Habanero" is described by Dave as having a "Nice clean heat, a touch of sweetness with hints of Root Beer and a long lingering finish".

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Country Archer Jerky - Original

Country Archer Jerky is a well known brand in the meat snack industry, going back to 1977 when it became the private labeler for hundreds of brands over the decades. Now based in San Bernardino, CA, the company is leveraging its own brand and pushing its own line of jerky into stores across the country.

As the jerky market has migrated towards preservative-free, natural ingredients, so has Country Archer. The company claims it's jerky is handcrafted, made in small batches, using all natural ingredients.

This Original flavor is simply described as being made from the "awesomest cattle", and little else...

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Gator Jerky

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse doesn't make any marketing claims on this Gator Jerky aside from being low fat, high protein, and that it "tastes like chicken".

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People's Choice Jerky - Orange Honey Teriyaki

People's Choice Beef Jerky makes a flavor, "Orange Honey Teriyaki".

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 Orange Honey Teriyaki is part of the company's "Tasting Kitchen" series, which is a line of jerky that mixes bold, eclectic ingredients, with the old fashioned style of making jerky. People's Choice says that this variety "...introduces a ping of sweetness and citrus from the honey and orange flavor... ...slowly brings through the more savory aspects of the Teriyaki sauce such as the spices and soy sauce. A subtle touch of ginger lingers in the mouth."

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Alien Fresh Jerky - Sweet & Spicy Premium

Alien Fresh Jerky is a brand that you might be familiar with if you've driven along Interstate 15 between Baker, CA and Las Vegas, NV. There are billboards along the desert highway with its alien cowboy brand, beckoning you to stop in Baker to buy some meat snacks.

To best of my knowledge, you can only buy this from their tiny store in Baker, or buy it online.

The Alien Fresh Brand comes in two series, the "regular" series of flavors, and then the "premium" series. The difference is that the premium line is made from beef brisket, while the regular is made from some other cut of beef. This Sweet & Spicy variety is apparently their top seller in the premium series.


Taste

The ingredients list shows the following: beef brisket, red chile, fructose, vinegar, orange peel, water, orange juice, garlic onion, spices, pectin, salt, cracked pepper, cayenne, paprika, ground oregano, thyme and spices. To their credit, they've used no artificial flavorings and preservatives.

The main thing I taste is sweet and spicy. The red chile flavor comes through very well, as does the cayenne and paprika, as well as the sweetness. I can also taste a slight orange in this. When Alien Fresh Jerky says this is "sweet & spicy" they really mean it.

The "hot" factor in this is exactly that "hot". Eating some pieces, I'm breaking a sweat and feeling the tingling in my scalp, and I can feel my tongue burning.

There is still some natural beef flavors that come through despite the thick flavoring. You won't notice it if you chew it and swallow right away. You have to chew it slightly, keep it in your mouth for about 10-15 seconds and extract the juices.

Meat Consistency

The package says this is made from beef brisket, and it appears to be so.

Each piece is soft and moist.

The meat is sticky due to its thick sweetness. Each piece I pick up I end up licking the stickiness from my fingers. But it's not so sticky like syrup. I actually find it enjoyable.

This jerky is sliced thin, and is not chewy, and very easy to tear apart. It still feels like beef when I chew it.

There is some marbling of fat, which I'd expect to find in beef brisket.

Rating

I'm giving this a "best" rating.

It's got everything a jerky lover can ask for, tons of taste, soft and moist, easy to eat, no artificial flavorings and preservatives, still retains some natural beef flavors, offers some fat marblization, makes you keep reaching for more, and offers a fresh taste that lives up to its name.

I tried to find something wrong with this brand and variety and couldn't do it. I can't even say that it's too salty, which many brands often are.

More importantly, you're getting a sweet & spicy variety that actually lives up to that claim; something you don't always get from other brands.

Rating: Best (5/5)

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The Jerky Hut - Peppered 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 Peppered Beef Jerky variety is marketed as having a "spicy heat range due to plenty of fresh Cracked Black Pepper", going on to say that it's "spicy but not hot".

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Jerky by Art - Green Chile

Jerky by Art was established by Arthur Sandoval in 2004, based out of Albuquerque, NM.

As an iron worker, Art started making carne seca (Mexican-style jerky) at home for his own pleasure. He would take some to work and sell it to co-workers. He was selling so much of it, that he bought more dehydrators. Before he knew it, he was producing jerky all day and night. And thus became, Jerky by Art.

This Green Chile variety is another favorite among the company's customers.

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Bayou Blend - Melange Original

Bayou Blend Meat Snacks is a brand of beef jerky based out of Napoleonville, LA. The company was started by Milton Hock in January 2013.

Hock had been making jerky for some 20 years before launching Bayou Blend. He started the business after seeing an opportunity to offer meat snacks with more unique cajun-style flavor than competing brands.

This Mèlange Original is claimed to be dried but not smoked. The packaging is branded with the phrase, "Cajun don't have to mean hot!!". Hock says that the seasoning blend is a mixture of several different seasonings used in South Louisiana cooking on a daily basis.

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Honey Glazed Beef Jerky

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill'founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This "Honey Glazed" is described by the brand as, "...flavored by Honey, Smoke, Brown & Maple sugars", going on to say that it's made with, "slices of premium, tender, juicy beef".

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Gentlemen's Beef Jerky - B.B.Q.

Gentlemen's Beef Jerky is a new brand launched by Chef Shehu Fitzgerald, based out of Staten Island, NY. Chef Shehu gained famed after winning it all on Season Seven of Food Network, "Chopped". He went on to compete on "Chopped Champs" and on ABC's, "The Taste".

The celebrated culinary master spent over 20 years at high profile restaurants including the Ritz Carlton, the Marriott Marquis and Essex House. He is currently banquet chef at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Hawaii. He earned a culinary degree at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, and received certifications from The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif. and Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, United Kingdom.

This new line of jerky is an extension of his line of spice blends he started in 2014.

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Tibbs Beef Jerky - Tibbs Revenge

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 "Tibbs Revenge" is described by the brand as, "World's Hottest Lab Tested", being made from a combination of Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion, and Ghost Pepper chiles. According to Tibbs, this jerky has been measured on Scoville Scale between 1.92 to 1.98 million units. For comparison purposes, the habanero pepper is about 1.0 million units, while the Carolina Reaper is about 2.0 million.

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Firecreek Jerky - Stix

Firecreek Jerky is a brand launched by Ryan Hansen based out of Jerseyville, IL. He got it off the ground in February 2016.

Hansen has been making "small batch" jerky from his family's meat business for the past three years. He makes jerky using USDA Choice Angus Beef. Since then, he's secured a deal with USDA inspected co-packer and is now relaunching the brand.

According to Firecreek Jerky, these snack sticks are marketed as, "natural" and "handcrafted", going on to add that they're gluten-free, with no added soy or MSG.

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Ball Park Beef Jerky - Peppered

Ball Park brand of hot dogs came out with this line of beef jerky in 2015 at a time when meat snack popularity started hitting new highs. Originally a part of Hillshire Brands, Ball Park became a part of Tyson Foods when Tyson acquired Hillshire.

The decision to add jerky to the famous hot dog brand came about as a way for Tyson to extend its meat processing empire to Millennials, who tend to eat snacks throughout the day as opposed to sitting down at the dinner table for a full meal.

This Peppered Beef Jerky is described by the company as having, "...the perfect dash of pepper to give it a surprising little kick."

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Gentlemen's Beef Jerky - Cracked Pepper

Gentlemen's Beef Jerky is a new brand launched by Chef Shehu Fitzgerald, based out of Staten Island, NY. Chef Shehu gained famed after winning it all on Season Seven of Food Network, "Chopped". He went on to compete on "Chopped Champs" and on ABC's, "The Taste".

The celebrated culinary master spent over 20 years at high profile restaurants including the Ritz Carlton, the Marriott Marquis and Essex House. He is currently banquet chef at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Hawaii. He earned a culinary degree at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, and received certifications from The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif. and Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, United Kingdom.

This new line of jerky is an extension of his line of spice blends he started in 2014.

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Tibbs Beef Jerky - Black Pepper

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 "Black Pepper" is described by Tibbs as his Original flavor, but named as such because of its black pepper forward profile.

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