The next review on Alien Fresh Jerky will focus on a 4 ounce/113.4 gram bag of their BBQ on the Moon flavored beef jerky. Worth noting is that the actual jerky weight is only 106 grams, where you are shortchanged near 10% of the jerky weight. This bag was purchased at the actual Alien Fresh Jerky store located in Baker, California, just off the I-15 interstate.
The Alien Fresh Jerky brand name is distributed by The Ramallos Inc., located in Baker, California. This brand was launched in 2004 by the founder Luis Ramallo, his wife Susana Ramallo, and his eldest son Martin Ramallo. Today, they are located in a 4800 square foot building. Baker, California is known as the unofficial halfway driving point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The Alien Fresh Jerky store is just off the highway, and worth a visit, with an alien sitting on a chair in the sky.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Sugar, Water, Pineapple Juice, BBQ Sauce (High Fructose Corn Syrup, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Vinegar, Molasses, Salt, Modified Food Starch, Apple Cider Vinegar, Contains less than 2% Honey, Natural Smoke Flavor, Mustard Flour, Spice, Dried Onion, Potassium Sorbate (To Preserve Freshness), Dried Garlic), Vinegar, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate), Salt, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Liquid Smoke, Sodium Nitrite. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of water, pineapple juice, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, and liquid smoke. The BBQ sauce is not healthy because the highly processed sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is first on the BBQ sauce ingredient list by weight. In general, this would be a cheap BBQ sauce, where the jerky maker sacrifices quality for profit.
There are some healthy spices added such as garlic powder and black pepper. There are some healthy spices included in the BBQ sauce also.
The sugar level is quite respectable at only 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 410mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less.
This jerky uses unhealthy sodium nitrite as the main preservative, apart from salt. This jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These are mostly large sliced strips of jerky that are sliced almost thin. The texture is close to being soft and tender, which results in jerky that is fairly easy to chew. There are multiple signs of fat that add to the overall natural beef flavor. There is no oily residue left on your fingers while handling these jerky strips.
The first taste detected is a fairly strong tomato flavor, which is tasty. There is a mild pineapple flavor, and a light soy flavor. This flavor is moderately salty, and mildly sweet. In the background, there is a light smoked flavor. There is also a light peppered and garlic taste. Overall, the sweet tasting barbecue sauce dominates this flavor.
This 4 ounce/113.4 gram bag of jerky was purchased for $9.00. That works out to $2.25 an ounce, which rates as an average price. A better deal than the average standard fare jerky you see for sale over and over again.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
Even for 4 ounces, this is a fairly large bag. There is a label affixed to the clear plastic front, and it has a gold colored back. It’s an interesting logo, with an alien on a horse dressed as a cowboy doing some cow herding.
Their slogan is “The Best Jerky In The Universe”. Facts printed on this bag are “Natural Smoke Flavor Added” and “Premium”.
The majority of bag categories are covered. Missing is a blurb written about the flavor and jerky, but there is no room. To the credit of Alien Fresh Jerky, they provide a toll free phone number for customer inquiries.
The bag listed below was purchased in Las Vegas, Nevada, back in 2012 for $5.99. The ingredient list has since been tweaked, and the label has been improved.
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