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".

Read More

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?".

Read More

Joe's Wicked Good Jerky - Wicked Hot

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 shared 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.

This "Wicked Hot" is made with Ghost Peppers and Habaneros, and is the hottest flavor Joe's Wicked makes. The package says, "Warning: extremely hot".

Read More

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".

Read More

Savage Jerky

Savage Jerky Co. is a new brand of jerky produced by Brad and Michelle Summey out of Washington DC. We previously reviewed their jerky under the name "Brave Jerky" while they were still in fundraising mode.

We're re-reviewing the jerky based on the new name and packaging, and since their jerky is now shipping, we can assign ratings.

Savage Jerky is based on a unique Cuban marinade recipe that mixes together garlic, lime, and cilantro. Currently, they are shipping four varieties, Mojo, Mojo Jalerrano, Mojo Habanero, and Ghost Pepper Buffalo.

Read More

Dave's Meat & Nuts - Smoked Beef Jerky with Ghost Pepper

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 "Smoked Beef Jerky with Ghost Pepper" is described by Dave as, "fire in jerky form", going on to say that it has, "Amazing deep flavors of smoked chilies & beef. Delicate to the bite & robust on the palate. This is very, very hot..."

Read More

Astro Fresh Jerky - Supernova Hot Beef Jerky

Astro Fresh Jerky is a brand owned by HJP Trading, LLC based out of Los Angeles, CA. It was started by Roy Park in early 2015 who found an old family recipe that dated back to the late 1980s.

Since then, Roy has been selling his jerky in local markets and retailers in California. Recently they started a website and are now taking online orders.

This Supernova Hot variety is one of three hot beef jerky flavors the company offers.

Read More

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.

Read More

Jeff's Famous Jerky - Carolina Reaper

Jeff's Famous Jerky recently released this new flavor, Carolina Reaper. 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 Carolina Reaper variety is of course based on the currently-world's-most-hottest chile pepper, the Carolina Reaper. According to Jeff himself, he launched this jerky variety after friends kept asking for something "over-the-top fiery".

Read More

Katie's Beef Jerky - Carolina Reaper

Katie's Premium Jerky & Snacks is a brand owned by Katie's Snack Foods, LLC based out of Hilliard, OH. It was started in 2014 by Katie Levesque, a graduate of The Ohio State University.

Katie loves jerky so much, that she actually sleeps with it under her pillow (in a plastic bag), and prefers spicy jerky (so that other people won't ask for some). She loves it so much, she left her career as an engineer to launch her own jerky company. Katie's Premium Jerky & Snacks is made in its own USDA inspected facility.

This "Carolina Reaper" variety won an award at the 2017 ZestFest Fiery Food Challenge. It's described as "gluten free", and comes with the warning, "dangerously hot!".

Read More

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".

Read More

The Patriot Brands Beef Jerky - Carolina Reaper Freedom Fire

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.

Claiming this will, "it will light a Fire within your soul", the company describes this Carolina Reaper Freedom Fire variety as being made from their own hot sauce of the same name.

Read More

Dundalk Dan's Awesome Beef Jerky - Habanero

Dundalk Dan's Awesome Beef Jerky is a brand of Hard Working Foods, LLC based out of Baltimore, MD. It was started by Dan Dawes in 2013, the CEO of an Internet marketing firm with a passion for meat snacks.

Dundalk Dan's claims their jerky is made in small batches and hand trimmed, and then marinated for 3 days.

This "Habanero" variety is described by the company as being, "hot, but not too hot", and inspired by their fans asking for a jerky a little more spicy than their famous Sriracha Style.

Read More

Uncle Bo's Beef Jerky - "Meat" The Reaper

Uncle Bo's Beef Jerky is a brand started by Tim Benton (AKA Uncle Bo), based out of Winter Springs, FL. Benton describes himself as a "native (hillbilly) from West Virginia and a pioneer at heart".

He started making jerky in 1998 after a friend bought him a dehydrator as a gift. After six months of experimenting, he came up with the recipe for his business. Since then, he's made jerky for friends and sold it locally. Last October, Benton launched a Kickstarter campaign to go USDA approved.

This "Meat" The Reaper is described by Uncle Bo as being the same as his "Holy Hot Habanero", but with Carolina Reaper chiles, currently the hottest chiles in the world. "This one walks a very tight line between flavor and heat" says Bo.

Read More

Hot Summer Calls for Hot Jerky

All across the country Americans have been enduring wickedly hot temperatures this summer. It seems that wickedly hot temps call for wickedly hot snacks. What could be better than Joe's Wicked Good Jerky's Wicked Hot?

Joe's Wicked Good Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Joe's Wicked Good Jerky Corporation, based out of Redding, CA. Husband and wife duo of Joe Nixt and Traci Nixt know a little something about making the best of beef jerky. Rated as "BEST" in our recent review, Wicked Hot is a very good jerky in terms of its sweet, saucy, seasoned marinade, and excellent meat consistency. The punch of chile pepper heat, and the endorphin rush, only makes this jerky better for me.

For being called, "Wicked Hot" it certainly is "hot" (level 5 out of 5) on our heat scale. I sure get a good endorphin rush and a fair amount of sweat beading on my scalp from Wicked Hot.

Studies show if you drink a hot drink on a hot day, it does result in a lower amount of heat stored inside your body, provided the additional sweat that’s produced when you drink the hot drink can evaporate. Imagine how well some hot jerky will work!

Apply some physics to your snacking routine. Cool down your summer snacking with Joe's Wicked Good Jerky Wicked Hot.

Buy this online:
https://www.joeswickedgoodjerky.com/

Read More

Ria's Roadkill Jerky - Habanero

Ria's RoadKill Jerky has stepped up a notch on the Scoville Scale with this new Habanero offering. See our reviews of other flavors from Ria's RoadKill Jerky.

Ria's RoadKill Jerky is run by Eden Van, based out of Long Beach, CA, having launched in January 2011. Eden got started in making jerky after receiving compliments on his barbecue recipes. He uses USDA Choice top round from his local meat market. All jerky is dehydrated in a smoker. He currently sells through Facebook and eBay while waiting for his new website to finish.

The company doesn't describe this jerky in any further way other than the name, "Habanero", but then again it perhaps doesn't need anymore explanation than that.

Read More

Little Bit Jerky - Bad Azz Bit

Little Bit Jerky has a couple new flavors out, including this "Bad Azz Bit".

The "Little Bit Jerky" brand launched in February 2016, by Robert Helmcamp and Teresa Helmcamp, based out of Wichita Falls, TX.

Robert is a professional butcher of 22 years, learning the craft the "old school" way, and developed his own seasonings. Little Bit Jerky is made fresh daily from top round, and marinated for 18-24 hours.

This "Bad Azz Bit" is described by the company as being, "A perfectly cooked steak flavor infused with Extreme Heat from a combination of peppers."

Read More

Naked Cow Jerky - Fire

Naked Cow Jerky is a new brand that launched in October 2015. It's a brand of Appalachian Jerky Company.

Naked Cow Jerky was launched to specifically to cater to a growing audience seeking minimally processed jerky, made with natural ingredients. Their jerky offerings are made with 100% grass fed beef, sea salt, and spiced. They use no artificial preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, MSG or soy. They claim to be "paleo-friendly", gluten-free, and made in a USDA inspected facility. They are currently selling in Boston, MA area at various retail locations and Cross-Fit gyms. It's also available online.

This "Fire" variety is based on the "Smoke" variety we reviewed earlier, but adds cayenne, habanero, and ghost chile peppers. The company claims that it, "really brings the heat".

Read More

Smokehouse Jerky Co - Haunting Heat

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 "Haunting Heat" variety is made with Ghost Pepper chiles, and is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as, "This is made with real “Ghost Pepper”, fantastic taste but it’s not for the faint of heart. "It’s the hottest we make."

Read More

Dusty's Real Beef Jerky - Hand Trimmed

Dusty's Real Beef Jerky is a brand owned by R&K Snacks out of Oklahoma City, OK. R&K Snacks is a jerky distributor that's been around for 23 years now, and is one of the largest beef jerky distributors in the State of Oklahoma, representing 24 different brands.

Dusty's Real Beef Jerky is the house brand of R&K Snacks. Dusty's is made using R&K's own original recipes in a USDA inspected facility. It's offered in five flavors and comes in four styles, Hand Trimmed, Ripple Cut, Steak Chunk, and Jerky Strips.

The Hand Trimmed jerky reviewed here is a slab-style, but is not specifically marked as "Hand Trimmed". I only have three of the five flavors, Original, Hickory, and Hot.

Read More