Joe Beef was opened on September 19, 2005, by David McMillan, Frederic Morin, and Allison Cunningham with financial guidance and investment by Jeff Baikowitz and David Lisbona. The restaurant took over the location of Café Miguel. The restaurant’s name is a homage to Montreal’s infamous Joe Beef, an alias for Charles McKiernan. McKiernan, who owned a tavern that served many lower class laborers in Montreal, “died in his canteen of a heart attack at the age of 54.” McKiernan’s generosity and gluttony may have inspired the concept of Joe Beef restaurant, which challenges the conventions of fine French dining.
This Joe Beef jerky brand is distributed under the same name as Joe Beef, and it is based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This jerky is manufactured by the private lableler Great Canadian Meat, who are located Whitby, Ontario, Canada, making this a stock recipe.
The first review on Joe Beef will focus on a 2.4 ounce/68 gram bag of their original flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a Dry Aged butcher in Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Apple Juice, Sea Salt, Cane Sugar, Brown Sugar, Natural Flavourings, Spices, Molasses, Garlic, Cultured Celery Powder, Spice Extract, Smoke.
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here is comprised of just water and healthy apple juice.
There are some healthy ingredients added, such as spices and garlic. The vague term natural flavourings is listed, which may or may not contain healthy ingredients.
The sugar level is high at 6 grams of sugar per 34 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 sort of high at 449mg of salt per 34 grams of jerky. However, the salt level is ignored because healthy, minimally processed sea salt is used.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite. Instead, apart from sea salt, cultured celery powder is used as a preservative. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
JOE BEEF – ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell soy and not much else. The strips are medium in size. and they are sliced rather thin. The jerky is neither soft nor hard, it is somewhere in between. The jerky is dry, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavours I detect are salt, at a decent level, pepper, also at a decent level, not much sweet, which is a good thing. I detect slight garlic, onion, and soy in the background. I don’t pick up any heat.
This jerky’s flavours are melting quite well together, and I am enjoying very much the finished product. Well done Joe Beef, you have created a flavour of jerky that is otherwise known as “More”. Two thumbs up, a well-deserved 10/10. 👍👍 Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
Joe Beef Jerky tastes great, the beef meaty flavor is at the forefront with the right amount of smokiness. The texture and aroma are also amazing. I’ve sampled this jerky over a few days and it kept getting better and better. The garlic, peppery, and sweetness in its flavor profile somewhat reminds me of a cross between a Teriyaki and a Korean Barbecue jerky flavor.
Overall, I don’t know if this jerky was meant to be an Original flavor or if the goal was a sweeter version of this flavor. In either case, this flavor works, I love it and it is an addicting jerky. I’d rate this jerky a well-deserved 10/10 Taste Rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this original beef jerky flavor from Joe Beef: “Thanks Stéphane and Paul for the honest taste reviews. While this flavour is enjoyable, I am not at 10 taste rating. Pimarily because the natural flavour of beef does not come across all that well. Otherwise, there is a well-balanced taste profile present not going overboard with the sweetness or saltiness. With Stéphane and Paul at 10 ratings, and myself at an 8 rating, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.4 ounce/68 gram bag was purchased for $9.99. That equates to $4.16 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear resealable plastic bag has labels attached, both on the front and back. The Joe Beef logo contains the fleurs-de-lis between the words Joe and Beef, also found on the Quebec flag.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only facts printed are “Premium Quality” and “Made in Canada”.
Some missing bag categories are distributor address details and a company website. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided.
I purchased the 86g bag at master meat and I would give this jerky a 2 out of 10 there is very little smoke flavour and the meat is dry and tuff. This is by far one of the poorest jerky’s that I have tasted. They should try tasting some good jerky and then change the formula to make this a good saleable product.
Dennis
PS I have been eating jerky for over 40 years