The first review on Chops Beef Jerky will focus on a 2.75 ounce/79 gram bag of their original flavored beef jerky. This original flavor is described as having slight overtones of freshly ground black pepper, with a small hint of brown sugar culminating in an unrivaled and unbeatable wholly unique flavor. The jerky bag was kindly submitted for review by the Head of Digital, Carole Gervasi.
Chops Beef Jerky is distributed by Chops Snacks, Inc., and is it located in New Haven, Connecticut. It all started in the summer of 2013, when after a long day at the country farm in the Pacific Northwest, Dusty Jaquins became thoroughly disappointed with the flavorless, tough jerky at his local store. After experimenting with some jerky recipes, Dusty, with his 30+ years of experience in the food industry, teamed up with Aaron Jones and Luke Sellers, who officially launched the Chops Beef Jerky brand in 2013. Only USDA Choice & Select brisket cuts of beef sourced from American beef are used. Chops Beef Jerky not only claims to have an exceptionally tender texture, they guarantee to have the most tender jerky texture on the market today. The Chops Beef Jerky motto is “Life’s Tough. Chew Easy”. There are currently four flavors for sale, including teriyaki, red chili pepper, and sweet & spicy.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef Brisket, Low-Sodium Gluten-Free Tamari Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol), Brown Sugar, Lemon Juice, Black Pepper, Granulated Garlic. Allergen Warnings: Soy
The beef brisket used here is guaranteed to be ethically raised, meaning free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. These cattle are not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam about. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here is comprised of just a high-end low-sodium gluten-free tamari soy sauce, and healthy lemon juice. The fruit lemons are loaded with vitamin C, and it acts as a meat tenderizer to a certain extent.
Some healthy ingredients are added such as black pepper and granulated garlic.
The sugar level is on the high side at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is borderline acceptable at 350mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservative. Instead, salt is the main preservative used. With more kudos to Chops Beef Jerky, this jerky has no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
This is a very nice, meaty mighty tasty snack. It is exceptionally fragrant and tender. I really appreciate the tenderness of this jerky and the flavor bursting in every bite is amazing. The texture and taste of the brisket gives this gourmet jerky a very decadent taste and feel.
There is a wonderful zest of tamari at the forefront with notes of garlic and black pepper gradually becoming more noticeable. These flavors pair very well, as it gives these strips a fun and enjoyable richness. These great flavors and texture catapult this jerky into hyper-space with Luke, Han Solo and Chewie.
Although, the taste is fairly sweet for an original flavor, it is still very addictive and doesn’t get in the way of a pleasurable experience. The tamari is also quite dominant and nicely complemented by a healthy bite of black pepper tickling your tongue in good ways.
I really enjoy this jerky for many reasons; the quality of the beef brisket is outstanding. The flavors are stunning although a tad sweet and the tenderness really set it apart.
I’d highly recommend tasting this beautiful jerky, as it should probably be on your bucket list. A sprinkle over a salad, a sumptuous dressing, poutine or pizza to name just a few would really complement these well. I would easily rate it 9/10.
A 2.75 ounce/79 gram bag of jerky sells online for $6.99, which works out to $2.54 an ounce. That would rate as an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic resealable bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back, with no labels affixed.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Exceptionally Tender Beef Brisket”. Some facts printed on this bag are “All Natural”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, “Minimally Processed”, “9g Protein”, “80 Calories”, 1g Total Fat”, and “Proudly Made in the United States of America”.
The only bag category missing is that the company web site is not provided. However, a QR Code is displayed, which links to their web site. A good blurb is printed on the back describing Chops Beef Jerky. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media handles are provided.
Excellent (10/10) – Bag Rating
Order their jerky online: www.chopssnacks.com
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