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 Wheat Beer flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as being their house flagship flavor. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by Co-Founder, Chase Schaffter.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Wheat Beer, Sugar, Concentrated Orange Juice, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate), Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Polysorbate 80, Sugar, Spices, Anchovy Puree, Natural Flavor), 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 wheat beer, concentrated orange 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 high at 7 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 acceptable 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
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I smell a myriad of flavors, but not much in the line of beer. The strips of jerky are medium to large in size, as well as being cut medium to thick. The jerky is dry and chewy, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
Finally, I get to review a fresh, sealed bag of beer jerky. No dissipation at all. And I have to admit, as I bite into the jerky, I am definitely picking up on a slight beer flavor. It is not strong, but it is definitely noticeable. Cool, finally, a tasty mix of two of my favorite ‘snacks’, beer and jerky.
Other flavors I encounter are salt, pepper, sweet, but thankfully not too sweet. There’s definitely some garlic and onion flavors dancing in the background.
To the gentlemen (and ladies) at Craft Beer Jerky, take a bow, you have created an all new treat, a melting pot of beef and beer. As I drink a tall can of Mill St. Organic beer, and chew on your delectable beer infused jerky, I am being overcome with spectacular flavors. We here in Canada love our beer, and we here in Canada love our jerky, so voila, what more could we ask for. Maybe a tall, blond virgin nympho flavor next, just to hit the trifecta? (I digress).
Can I have my next order delivered in a vat please? I’ll throw on my bathing suit and go for a dip.
A most definite 10/10 gentlemen, this jerky tastes like MORE!!!!👍👍👍👍
Here is what Mark had to say about this Wheat Beer beef jerky flavor from Craft Beer Jerky: “Thanks Paul for another great taste review. While there is a taste of beer present, the flavor of beer is not consistent strip to strip. On some strips the taste of beer comes across pretty well, and some strips not so much. Agreed with Paul in that this is a very enjoyable flavor.”
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.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
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”. A fact printed on this bag is “Created With Wheat Beer”.
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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