Crazy Mike's Jerky - Hot

Crazy Mike's Beef Jerky is a brand started in 2013 by Mike Merwin, a retired US Navy veteran, based out of Altamount, NY.

Mike, who's known by his friends as "Crazy Mike", had been making jerky himself since 1994 when a friend bought him a dehydrator on a BOGO deal after watching a late night infomercial. Mike had been making homebrew and winning chili cook-offs at the time, so making jerky was right up his alley.

Crazy Mike's Beef Jerky is made from USDA Choice Beef, Eye Round, hickory smoked, and then slow cooked. It currently sells online from its website, as well as in one of Mike's friend's bars.

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Alien Fresh Jerky - Honey Chipotle

This Honey Chipotle Beef Jerky is one of the newest flavors from Alien Fresh Jerky, having rolled out last March. It's described as having, "an extraordinary fiery kick to it, which creeps up", going on to explain the subtle sweetness masks the heat, making you think it's not that hot.

Over the years, we've reviewed other flavors from Alien Fresh Jerky. The company has built a successful brand on the concept that superior beings from outer space can make superior jerky. Alien Fresh is a local favorite among Southern Californians who make the drive to and from Las Vegas. You can't help but to stop at their store in Baker, and peruse the humorous alien statues and decorations, along with one of the largest selections of hot sauces.

The success of Alien Fresh Jerky is now extending itself to the "UFO Hotel" currently planned for the tiny town of Baker.

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Blank and Sons - Texas Heat 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 "Texas Heat Jerky" is marketed by the company as putting the hot Texas sun into each bag of jerky, offering the, "perfect amount of pepper and spices".

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Clean-N-Jerky - Original

Clean-N-Jerky is a new brand of beef jerky that launched just a year ago. It was started by Mischelle Marro, a Crossfit enthusiast, based out of Colorado Springs, CO.

When one day she was diagnosed with cancer, she changed to a paleo diet of natural ingredients. A friend of hers who marketed grass-fed beef gave her the inspiration to create her own beef jerky. Today, Clean-N-Jerky uses beef from free-range cattle that feeds on Maytag grass on the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo range in Colorado. It remains gluten-free and contains no preservatives.

Clean-N-Jerky is available in two flavors as of this writing, Original and Pepper. It can purchased from a variety of fitness and healthfood stores around Colorado, and through its website.

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Lehigh Biltong

Lehigh Biltong is a new brand that got started in September 2015 by Dan Levy, based out of Bethlehem, PA. Levy, who grew up in England from South African parents, had always loved biltong. But when he moved to the United States, it was hard to find.

After becoming frustrated with paying high prices for biltong and waiting weeks on delivery, Levy decided to make his own.

Now a senior at Lehigh University, he balances his studies in Mechanical Engineering and running his new biltong brand. He uses antibiotic-free beef, along with the usual ingredients of salt, vinegar, coriander, and black pepper, but throws in a kick of Old Bay seasoning.

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Steel Cowboy Jerky - Original

Steel Cowboy Jerky is a brand operated by Michael Basler out of Ste. Genevieve, MO.

Mike started making jerky 16 years ago. In 2010 he started selling it on eBay and in local stores. In 2015 he entered his jerky into the World Hot Sauce Competition and took 2nd Place. Steel Cowboy Jerky is made from eye of round beef. It's hand trimmed and sliced, then cured and marinated for 24 hours.

Aside from this Original, Mike also offers Salt & Lime, Cajun, Bacon Flavored, Maple, BBQ, Mesquite, Rootbeer, Fire, Teriyaki, Wildfire, and Lime & Tequila.

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Crockett Creek Beef Jerky - Legendary Barbecue

Crockett Creek Beef Jerky is a brand owned by Magnolia Provision Company, Inc., based out of Knoxville, TN. The brand has been around since 1994.

Magnolia Provisions is also well known as a beef jerky co-packer, making jerky for many other companies. They also produce steaks, chops, patties, and other cuts of beef for retail.

This "Lengendary Barbecue" variety is described by the company as, "the perfect blend of down home barbecue that starts off with the perfect sweetness and ends with just the right amount of kick."

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Beefy Boys Beef Jerky - Hot Peppered

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky is a brand owned by John Bailey, based out of Salinas, CA. The brand has been around since 1999.

Manufactured in their very own USDA inspected facility, Beefy Boys is made from top round sourced from a supplier located 120 miles from their plant, then marinated and cooked using an old family recipe.

This Hot Peppered variety is described by the company as being made with their "original secret family marinade", but completely covered with smoking hot red chile peppers. They warn that you, "better have a big ice cold beverage with you at all times when eating this fireball!"

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Homegrown Meats Jerky - Good Ol' Traditional

Homegrown Meats is a brand owned by a partnership of ranchers and business associates based out of Palomar Mountain, CA. It's known for delivering cuts of certified grass-fed beef to Whole Foods Market locations throughout Southern California, and beyond.

This line of jerky is a recent addition to the brand, and was unveiled to the public at the recent Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA last March. Marketed as 100% grassfed, pasture raised, no hormones, no antibiotics, and no animal by-products, it's said to be made from the same beef that Whole Foods Market sells in their meat case.

This jerky is currently available at Whole Foods Markets in Southern California, and soon to be available from Homegrown Meats' website.

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Braaitime Biltong

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 Biltong to Americans.

Warren claims to be the only brand of biltong 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.

Biltong is a type of seasoned, dried meat whose recipe originated from South Africa. Similar to jerky in description, but tasting very much different, it's traditionally seasoned with vinegar, coriander, black pepper, and salt. Braaitime sells biltong unsliced, sliced, and flavored in Peri Peri and Garlic, and even in Venison.

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