The Smokehouse Jerky Co. brand name was launched in 2008. On January 2/2017, Franco and his wife Patti Fonseca acquired Smokehouse Jerky Co. from Trent Levinson and his wife Barbie. Franco has since added some new flavors, and they have a new web site design. All Smokehouse Jerky Co. jerky is made in small batches. Tender Heifer Snack Co. are always looking for new distributors across the United States, and they offer private label services, most notably for Knott’s Berry Farm. This jerky is manufactured and distributed by Tender Heifer Snack Co., and they are based out of Beaumont, California.
The next review on Smokehouse Jerky Co. will focus on a 3 ounce/84 gram bag of their original flavored beef jerky. This will be our second review on this original flavor, where the ingredient list and bag design has since been slightly tweaked. The flavor is described as having mellow, smoky flavor that complements the jerky’s lean meat, along with a classic taste of beef jerky. This jerky was graciously submitted for review by one of the owners, Patti Fonseca.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Gluten Free Tamari Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Sugar), Water, Brown Sugar, Minced Garlic, Hickory Smoke, Worcestershire Sauce (Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce Base (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Sulfiting Agent), Salt, Citric Acid), Lemon Juice, Granulated Garlic, Ground Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy
This brisket cut of beef used is from cattle raised in California. 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 consists of a quality gluten free tamari soy sauce, an average Worcestershire sauce, water, and healthy lemon juice. It is disappointing to see that the Worcestershire sauce uses the highly processed cheap sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to lose a rating.
There are some healthy ingredients added such as granulated garlic, minced garlic, and healthy black pepper.
The sugar level is high at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or under per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is quite high at 490mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose another rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
As advertised, there are no unhealthy preservatives used, where this jerky is confirmed as having no sodium nitrite. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I smell natural beef. What a great way to start. The pieces are medium in size. They are somewhat soft and dry, and leave no oily residue on your fingers.
As I bite into this brisket cut of beef jerky, holy frickin’ crap, what a succulent myriad of flavors I am encountering. I taste salt, pepper, garlic, juice, natural beef and a veritable plethora of other delectable tastes.
I have an excellent proposition for the creators of Game Of Thrones. Never mind swords, dragons, fire and Valyrian steel. Catapult copious bags of Smokehouse Jerky Co. original bags of brisket jerky over the walls of King’s Landing, and when they encounter the overwhelming ridiculously tasty flavor of this jerky, they will be too engrossed in gorging themselves with jerky to bother picking up their swords and defending their city. All will be won with no bloodshed, just Cersei and her sycophants braying and wailing as they are cast back into their dungeons and denied any more of the Smokehouse Jerky Co. original beef brisket jerky. An undeniable and painfully obvious 10/10 gentlemen. 👍👍
This 3 ounce/84 gram bag of jerky sells online for $8.50. That works out to $2.83 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a standard resealable plastic bag, with a label affixed on the front, and nothing on the back. The label has a fairly detailed picture that looks like a wooden shack with a “Jerky Co.” sign, and trees in a dark background.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bags are “Old Fashion Recipe”, “No Added MSG”, “No Added Preservatives”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Old Fashion”, “Gluten Free”, “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”, and “Brisket”.
The only missing bag category missing is a blurb printed about Smokehouse Jerky Co. or this Original flavor.
Order their jerky online: www.smokehousejerkyco.com
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