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 next review on Bluestone Jerky will focus on a 1.4 ounce/40 gram bag of their Chili Blend flavored beef jerky. The flavor is described as using a Hellrub spice blend from Vancouver, Canada. This jerky was graciously 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 – Chili Blend Beef Jerky
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the sealed bag, I immediately smell the soy sauce and the Worcestershire sauce. The smell is rather intense. The jerky is medium in size, and it was sliced to a medium thickness. The jerky is solid and dry, just the way I prefer it. True jerky, the way our forefathers made it.
The first flavours I encounter are intense salt (👍), nominal sweet (👍), garlic, onion, copious amounts of natural beef, and a nice, if not overpowering, heat emanating from the ‘chili blend’.
I understand this jerky is from a faraway place endearingly referred to as ‘down under,’ more commonly known as Australia.
Well, over, under, sideways, down, or otherwise, this jerky is sending me in circles, jumping up and down for another morsel of this delectable treat. Humans and marsupials alike will be running or hopping along to their nearest Bluestone jerky location to re-up on this ridiculously addictive flavour of cannabis, er, I mean jerky.
Don’t be surprised or upset if you ask momma kangaroo to pull your favourite toy out of her pocket, and she inadvertently pulls out a bag or four of Bluestone Chilli Blend beef jerky instead. An honest and totally understandable mistake, if y’all know what I mean. A 10/10, three thumbs up, no-brainer.
THAT’S RIGHT MATE!!!👍🇦🇺
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.
Excellent (10/10) – 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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