Dean Findlay has been making jerky since his early teens (around 2001) for himself and friends. Once Dean started getting better at the blends and mixes, he would give them to mates at local sports clubs and sell some to friends who would gift them to partners. After a while, Dean’s extended circle of friends wanted a logo/name/different batches, etc. The Bluestone Jerky brand name was introduced in 2016.
Bluestone Jerky uses 100% grass-fed beef from a local butcher in Geelong. This boutique hand-crafted jerky company uses ingredients sourced locally and internationally. Bluestone Jerky is distributed under the name of Bluestone Jerky Co., and it is located in Connewarre, Victoria, Australia.
The first review on Bluestone Jerky will focus on a 1.4 ounce/40 gram bag of their Dill Pickle flavored beef jerky. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by the founder, Dean Findlay.
Ingredient Review
Beef, Worcestershire Sauce, Soy Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Curry Powder, Herbs & Spices.
Bluestone Jerky is guaranteed to use 100% grass-fed beef. As a result, the cattle are guaranteed to have free-range access and be ethically raised. Therefore, the ingredient rating starts at an Excellent (10/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and healthy tomato sauce.
Some healthy ingredients added are curry powder, herbs, and spices, including sesame seeds, mustard, and pickles/pickle juice.
The sugar level is acceptable at 2.1 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is a little high at around 384mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservative. With more kudos to Bluestone Jerky, this jerky has no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
BLUESTONE JERKY – DILL PICKLE BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I smell vinegar and dill. The jerky is generally small in size, is sliced thin, is dry and chewy, and leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavors I encounter are salt (at a supremely perfect level), pepper (again, at a supremely perfect level), minor sweet, vinegar, definite curry and (I believe to be) cumin, heavy dill pickle flavor (as advertised), and a very minor kick, not sure what from. I can physically see the sesame seeds on the jerky, but I am not tasting sesame, not sure why not.
One thing I can derive from this flavor of jerky is the intense “Wow!!” factor. This jerky is stirring some ridiculously serious loins in me, and I am pining obsessively for this flavor of jerky. It is insanely addictive. This jerky tastes like ‘More, more, more!!’
My frickin’ goodness, let’s dispel with the jerky form, let’s melt it down into a liquid form, to shoot it into my veins. Let us add caveats like “insanely addictive” and ‘ridiculously euphoric’ product, ‘please exercise caution when ingesting.’
Gentlemen, anything less than a 10/10 is just cause for execution via firing squad, let us bow in humble servitude to the Bluestone Jerky Company, they sure do Jerky well…😋👍
Here is what Mark had to say about this Dill Pickle beef jerky flavor from Bluestone Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the enthusiastic taste review. Quite true, there is a well-balanced, delicious taste profile that blends in well. My only complaint is that the dill pickle flavor could have been more prominent tasting. Put another way the dill pickle flavor was not consistent strip to strip. Otherwise, this is an addictive product. The dill pickle flavor itself tastes authentic, leaving you wanting more.”
“Due to COVID-19, we are down to three members from the Group of Seven. Mark M. was only at a surprising 7 rating noting the light level of dill pickle. Mark M. only tries one strip. With myself at a 9 taste rating, Paul at a 10 rating, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating seems most appropriate here.”
This 1.4 ounce/40 gram bag of jerky sells for $4.00. That works out to $2.85 an ounce, which rates at an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This beige resealable plastic has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag. Bluestone Jerky designed the logo based on the oldest Bluestone Bridge in the Geelong area (where Dean grew up). The name is from Bluestone School Rd, in a little country town of Connewarre where Dean’s family home was/is, where it all started (near Barwon Heads, Victoria).
There are no slogans displayed on this bag. The only fact shown is “Gluten Free”.
Some missing bag categories are allergen alerts, bar code, web site, and jerky distributor address details. The @bluestone handle is displayed for Facebook and Instagram.
Check out their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bluestonejerky
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