Jerky Jerks - Hawaiian Style 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 Hawaiian Style variety is described by them as a family favorite, "Thin and tender slices of top sirloin steak marinated in our special blend of teriyaki, pineapple juice, honey & brown sugar for maximum flavor."

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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".

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Pony Express Jerky - Original Hickory Smoked Strips

Pony Express Jerky is a brand owned by Pony Express Enterprises based out of New Holland, PA. The brand was started in 2009 by Ted Cundiff, a veteran of the meat snack industry. Cundiff originally launched Wild Bill's Beef Jerky in 1983, a brand that was bought up by Monogram Foods in 2009.

Pony Express is manufactured in its own USDA inspected facility in New Holland, right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The company offers a retail location in Blue Ball, PA.

This "Original Hickory Smoked" is different than the flavor we reviewed last week in that this is packaged in full length strips, and more importantly, is vacuum-sealed, which tends to hold its flavor and moisture better. It's only sold in one-pound (16 oz) packages. For comparison purposes, see last week's review here. Pony Express recommends you purchase a "Jerky Jar" designed to hold your remaining jerky strips and keep them air sealed.

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Firecreek Jerky - Original

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, this Original is marketed as, "...an authentic, beef taste with perfect hints of salt, onion and garlic flavor profiles". It's also labeled as, "all natural" and "minimally processed".

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Jamie's Jerky - Turkey

Jamie's Jerky is the creation of Jamie Watt and his daughter Sasa Watt, based out of Crested Butte, CO. The Watts have been making jerky as a hobby for themselves and their friends for 35 years. They were getting so many requests that they finally decided to make it a business.

Jamie's Jerky claims to strive for "sustainable jerky", using only grass-fed beef and all natural turkey, with no hormones and antibiotics. It's also gluten-free. The company has won Gold Medals two years running at the Crested Butte "Annual Jerky-Off", fielding unamimous decisions both times.

This turkey jerky is claimed to be made from USDA Choice grade, all natural turkey, with no preservatives or MSG.

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Bakke Brothers Brand - Wild Game Snack 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 Wild Game Snack Sticks are is marketed as, "Super Lean", "Naturally Wood Smoked", and are made from a blend of Bison and Elk.

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Dave's Meat & Nuts

Dave Gadlin hasn't had his meat and nuts in anyone else's mouth but his own. But soon that will all change. His company, "Dave's Meat & Nuts" is currently raising funds on Kickstarter, and by December 1, 2014, hopes to be fulfilling orders.

Having spent his life in New York City working with some of the country's best chefs and restauranteurs, Dave took his expertise out west to Napa, CA to focus on his two snacking passions, beef jerky and peanuts. His jerky is smoked in a real smokehouse, using natural ingredients, and is gluten-free.

Because his jerky is still not available for sale, I'm withholding formal ratings. The review below is based on pre-production samples sent to me by Dave.

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Tibbs Beef Jerky - Spicy Garlic

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 "Spicy Garlic" is described by the company simply as, "...will have you coming back for more".

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Smokehouse Jerky Co - "Oh" That's Hot!

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 "Oh That's Hot!" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as, "Starts off sweet then gives you a late hit of the Jalapeno heat at the end. Very different but a bit spicier than the rest."

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Crazy Mike's Beef Jerky - Peppered

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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