Co-owners Chase Schaffter and Danny Kueser met while working at Cinder Block Brewery. Danny was a bartender and brewers assistant, and Chase owned a food truck that served BBQ to the patrons of the brewery. So, this naturally lead them to try to cook anything and everything with beer. One day, Danny and Chase decided to make beef jerky out of a new batch beer that Danny brewed at the Cinder Block brewery. The first batch was absolutely horrible. However, they don’t give up easily, So they started to get together regularly to make beef jerky. After a while, they decided that it would be fun to package it so they could share it with other people. The Craft Beer Jerky brand was launched in 2017. Craft Beer Jerky is distributed by Craft Beer Jerky LLC, and they are located in Kansas City, Kansas.
The first review on Craft Beer Jerky will focus on a 2 ounce/57 gram bag of their Boulevard Tank 7 flavored beef jerky. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by Co-Founder, Chase Schaffter.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Tank 7 Beer, Sugar, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Polysorbate 80, Sugar, Spices, Anchovy Puree, Natural Flavor), Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate), Sea Salt, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Paprika, Sodium Nitrite. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Anchovies
The beef used is guaranteed to have been raised ethically, meaning not administered growth hormones or additional antibiotics. This beef is also guaranteed to have at least partial free range to roam about as nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating possible is Very Good (9/10).
The liquid marinade consists of the craft beer Boulevard Tank 7, a poor brand of Worcestershire sauce, and an average soy sauce. A rating is lost because the emulsifier polysorbate 80 is used in the Worcestershire sauce that bind ingredients together. Polysorbate 80 is not considered to be healthy.
There are some healthy ingredients added such as onion powder, black pepper, and paprika.
The sugar level is high at 6 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is respectable at 280mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky is not sodium nitrite free, as sodium nitrite is used outright to lose a rating. The jerky is also sprayed with the preservative potassium sorbate. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are medium to large in size, and ranges from thin to thick depending on the strip. The texture is soft and dry, and requires a normal amount of effort to chew. There is a pleasant aroma of soy, vinegar, and beer in the bag.
We found that this flavor was inconsistent from strip to strip. In one of the thinner strips, Craft Beer Jerky nailed the awesome taste of Boulevard Tank 7. In other strips, the taste of Boulevard Tank 7 does not come across well.
Paul had a unique experience with a strip that was sliced too thick: “I have received one very large piece of jerky, which is exceptionally large in size, and sliced to a medium thickness. When I bite into the strip, I encounter salt, pepper, what I consider to be significantly too much sweet, along with garlic and onion at light levels, along with vinegar and natural beef. I apologize, but I detect no beer flavor whatsoever, whatever flavors are trying to shine through are being smothered by the intense sweet flavor. Sorry gentlemen, tap me out, I am tasting too much sweet and not enough of any other flavors. A Decent (7/10) in my opinion.”
Unfortunately, Paul did not get to try the best strip that oozed Boulevard Tank 7. I found that also the Worcestershire/soy sauce ratio to be prominent tasting. This jerky was shared between five people with mixed reactions. Nolan, who is a tough critic, is impressed with this Boulevard Tank 7 flavor, but he tried the awesome strip. If Craft Beer Jerky can get consistency on that one somewhat thin strip then they have a winner on their hands.
A 2 ounce/57 gram bag of jerky sells online for $7.00. That works out to $3.50 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Bag Review
This resealable bag has everything printed directly on the bag, both on the front and back. On the front is a picture of a glass of beer. A trademarked Boulevard Tank 7 logo is printed on the front.
Some slogans printed on this bag are “Beef Jerky Infused With Craft Beer”, and “Bite Into Your Beer”. Some facts printed on this bag are “American Saison Ale”, and “Collaboration With Boulevard Brewing Co.”.
The only missing bag categories are soy, wheat, and anchovy allergen alerts, and a best before date. There is a batch number display that could translate to a best before date. A small good blurb is printed on the back about Craft Beer Jerky.
Order their jerky online: www.craftbeerjerky.com
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