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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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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Western's Smokehouse - Big'un 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.

These "Big'un" Snack Sticks are essentially the same as the company's normal sized snack sticks we reviewed last week, even the same ingredients, but are double the length, and double the weight, for those who need something more visually impressive. Note however, this Big'un line includes a Jalapeno flavor, not available in the normal line of sticks.

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Jerky by Art - Jalapeno Pepper

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 Jalapeno Pepper variety is described simply as a "spicy jerky".

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Bubba's Carolina Jerky - Sweet Jalapeno Bacon Jerky

Bubba's Carolina Jerky is a brand that started in 2004 by Bubba Dunn, a retired veteran who spent 36 years in the US Coast Guard and US Army. The company is based out of Cocoa, FL.

Dunn grew up in an outdoor sporting family that frequently hunted, fished, and raised livestock. Lean meats were often turned into jerky using an old family recipe. Today, he spends his time perfecting marinades, running his jerky company, and making special batches of dehydrated meats for friends. Bubba's Carolina Jerky prides itself on using meat from US ranchers. Their jerky is sold through stores including Mast General Stores, Contemporary Nutrition, Edgewater True Value, and Crossroads Ace Hardware.

This "Sweet Jalapeno Bacon Jerky" is one of two bacon jerky flavors offered by the company. They describe it as having initial sweet that overtakes the taste buds and then gradually adds in the heat.

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Country Archer Jerky - Sweet Jalapeno

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 Sweet Jalapeno flavor is described as a "sweet and spicy" variety, being sweet, "but not enough to make you sing show tunes", while being spicy enough, "but not making you feel like you lost a bet".

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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.

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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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Love Jerky Company - Ginger

Love Jerky Company is the creation of Helen Geddes and her husband Brian, based out of Oak Park, CA. The brand got started in 2017.

Helen and Brian used to make batches of homemade jerky and give them away to friends and family. Their jerky was a hit, and therefore turned their hobby into a never-ending tradition. Today, Love Jerky gives back to the community by donating a bag of jerky for every bag they sell.

This Ginger variety is one of three varieties the company offers. It doesn't make any specific marketing claims other than the word "Ginger".

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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 Patriot Brands Beef Jerky - Smokies with Cheese and Peppers

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

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

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

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Wild Sky Beef Sticks - Review

Wild Sky Beef Jerky is a brand owned by American Prairie Holdings based out of Bozeman, MT. Wild Sky Beef was launched in 2014 as a vehicle to preserve wildlife in Montana.

American Prairie Holdings operates a 500,000 acre wildlife reserve in Eastern Montana, and is actively increasing that 3.5 million acres. Profits from the sales of its grass-fed beef products is used to purchase lands and to reward cattle ranchers who implement wildlife-friendly corridors, fences, and monitoring systems on their property.

This line of beef jerky is made from grass-fed cattle, using no hormones, and raised by family farms in Montana. All meat is source-verified and USDA inspected. It's also marked as "Gluten-Free" and "Minimally Processed".

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Amarok Beef Sticks

Amarok Beef Sticks is a brand of Superpowered Nutrition, LLC based out of Sparta, NJ. Launched in 2015, the company was founded by Jeff Baitinger and Rich Fitter, two comic book nerds with a passion for fitness.

The name "Amarok" comes from Inuit mythology as a supernatural gigantic grey wolf who is said to have made a deal with the "Great Spirit" to atone for his past sins by becoming an agent of justice, a la, the lonely, introspective, no-one-understands-him-but-his-woman kind.

These beef sticks are the first products of the Amarok brand, which now includes beef bites. Made from grass-fed beef, using gluten-free ingredients, these sticks are marketed heavily to comic fans and fantasy fanatics.

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Grandpa's Beef Jerky - Original Jalapeno

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 Jalapeno" is described as, "Garden fresh jalapeños add flavor and heat to Grandpa’s original hickory-smoked flavor." It's also marked as, "Hot".

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Poor-Man's Jerky - Jalapeno

Poor-Man's Jerky is owned by Mike Stringfield, based out of Wellsville, KS. A landscaper by day, and jerky chef at all other times.

The name, "Poor-Man's Jerky" has often been used globally to refer to left-over scraps at the butcher shop that's been ground into jerky. And interestingly, this particular brand is also a ground beef product. But coincidentally, Poor-Man's Jerky doesn't have its own website; all sales comes from local street festivals and county fairs, as well as through Facebook.

This "Jalapeno" variety doesn't come with any other description or claims.

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Fusion Jerky - Pork

Fusion Jerky is a new brand of jerky that has managed to get a lot notice from other big brands in the jerky business. Based out of South San Francisco, CA it's the creation of KaiYen Mai, a mother of two and avid outdoorswoman, who wanted to focus on Asian-style jerky.

"In my home country of Taiwan, jerky is a celebrated delicacy, akin to a fine wine", Mai says in her marketing materials. Fusion Jerky offers beef, turkey, chicken, and pork styles encompassing eight flavors. It's made using US raised animals at their ranch in Scottsbluff, NE. It's marketed as gluten-free, all natural, preservative free, and nitrate free.

These pork jerky varieties are made at the company's own USDA-inspected facility in Scottsbluff, NE.

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Klemke's Sausage Haus - Beef Jerky

Klemke's Sausage Haus is a local favorite among residents of Slaton, TX. Founded by Rod and Judy Klemke in 1993, much of their business lies in meat processing for hunters and farmers, but their jerky and sausage have grown in demand throughout West Texas.

Rod's grandfather came from Germany. As a child, he grew up in the meat business, learning how to skin and prepare meat. In 1987, he started Slaton Packing Company, and then in 1993 launched Klemke's Sausage Haus. In 2006, he bought a second packing plant in Wolfforth. The couple also run a Barbecue restaurant in Slaton.

Klemke's offers four varieties of beef jerky, their Original, a Teriyaki, a Jalapeno, and a Blazin' Hot (which we don't have for review). They also offer two varieties of turkey jerky which we'll review later, as well as a Pork Jerky.

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Don Beto' Beef Jerky

Don Beto' Beef Jerky is a brand owned and operated by Bob Otwell, based out of Corona, CA. The brand launched in March 2013.

The brand is not currently shipping, according to a note from Bob, though he notes he's been selling it locally for $4.00 per 2oz pack, as well as on eBay, based on our research. He hopes to hear what we think first, and then go from there. The reviews expressed here are based on pre-production samples sent to us from him.

All of Don Beto' Beef Jerky is labeled as "Gluten Free", "No MSG", "No Cure", "No Preservative", and "No Sodium Nitrite".

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Divine Bovine - Turkey Jerky

Divine Bovine has a four flavors in its line of Turkey Jerky. Recently introduced into a new packaging design, this soft, moist variety of jerky free of preservatives with no MSG.

The company claims to have started in Southern Italy when a butcher named "Pops" discovered a great recipe and cut of meat for making beef jerky, who eventually handed it down to his grandson, who started the Divine Bovine brand.

This line of turkey jerky comes in Original, Spicy Jalapeno, Tangy Teriyaki, and Hot & Tangy Teriyaki flavors.

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Hunger Buster! Beef Sticks - Jalapeno

Hunger Buster! Beef Cut is a new brand of beef sticks produced by QuarterShare, LLC based out of Tulsa, OK. QuarterShare also makes the QuarterShare line of beef sticks and the Kratos line of sport snacks.

According to the company, what sets Hunger Buster! apart from the others is that they use 100% Midwest lean beef, is gluten free and sugar free (though this stick has brown sugar in the ingredients). They also limit the sodium content to no more than 250mg per stick. In keeping line with the QuarterShare company philosophy, Hunger Buster! gives back 25% of all sales to charities in the form of food.

Hunger Buster! beef sticks come in three flavors, this Jalapeno, an Original, and Smokey Sweet.

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