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 of 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 next review on Craft Beer Jerky will focus on a 2 ounce/57 gram bag of their Cinder Block Pavers Porter flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as being a tasty snack marinated in their special blend of traditional jerky flavors AND seasonings that compliment the beer. The jerky was graciously submitted for review by Co-Founder, Chase Schaffter.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Porter Beer, Sugar, Apple Juice, 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), Onion Powder, Sea Salt, 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 porter beer, apple juice, 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 acceptable at 3 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is also respectable at 320mg 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.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are mainly medium in size, and the thickness varies from thin to medium. The texture is between soft and dry, and fairly easy to chew. The aroma is likely the beer fragrance mixed with juice, which is appealing and inviting.
The first tastes detected are a juice, a mild to medium sweetness, Worcestershire sauce, and a mild saltiness finishing off with a slight level of spiciness.
Having never tasted Pavers Porter beer before I am not sure what to expect. I can only extract what flavors I do recognize, and surmise the other unrecognized flavors leftover are from the Pavers Porter beer. While the taste is not consistent from strip to strip, there is a light pleasing flavor of beer here. This overall flavor is well-balanced, and there is a decent amount of natural beef flavor present.
Here is what Paul had to say about this Pavers Porter beer flavor: ” The first flavors I detect are salt, sweet, pepper, garlic, natural beef and a juice. If I’m being honest, I like this flavor, but it by no means is blowing me away. I still cannot with a clear conscience award any higher than an 8/10.”
This flavor was shared between seven people, where the ratings ranged from 7 to 9. This Pavers Porter beer flavor could be more well-defined but tastes great when it’s there, where I will cut this down the middle, and award a Good (8/10) taste rating.
A 2 ounce/57 gram bag of jerky sells online for $6.00. That works out to $3.00 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 fittingly a picture of a glass of beer.
Some slogans printed on this bag are “Beef Jerky Created With Craft Beer”, and “Bite Into Your Beer”. Some facts printed on this bag are “American Saison Ale”, and “Collaboration With Cinder Block Brewery”.
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. An email address is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.craftbeerjerky.com
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