For the past 25 years, McSweeney’s has proudly provided Canadians with delicious meat snacks made with care. They come from modest beginnings and have developed into a brand that’s trusted coast to coast. At McSweeney’s, their business is to provide the best meat snacks in Canada. They don’t own or operate any farms, but they understand the fundamental importance of good animal welfare practices and the link between animal health, animal welfare, and food quality/safety.
As an organization, McSweeney’s is committed to sharing the same values as their customers, which includes looking after the welfare of animals raised for our products. McSweeney’s loves this country and all of the things that make it unique. Whether it’s a game of neighbourhood pond hockey in the middle of winter or an impromptu summer road trip on the Trans-Canada; McSweeney’s provide meat snacks for the on-the-go, and they encourage you to get out and experience Canada with them. This McSweeney’s jerky brand is distributed under the name of Direct Plus Food Group, and it is based out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The next review on McSweeney’s will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their cracked black pepper flavoured beef jerky. This flavour is advertised to use premium Canadian beef blanketed in select peppercorns and rested for days to allow the flavour to penetrate every bite. The bag was purchased at a No Frills grocery store in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Sea Salt, Cane Sugar, Pineapple Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar, Spices, Molasses, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Garlic, Sodium Nitrite, 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 healthy pineapple juice and super healthy apple cider vinegar.
Some healthy ingredients added are spices (which must include cracked peppercorns) and garlic.
The sugar level is good at 1 gram of sugar per 15 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 330mg of salt per 15 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky. However, the salt level is ignored because healthy, minimally processed sea salt is used.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as no sodium nitrite is used outright to lose a rating. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
MCSWEENEY’S – CRACKED BLACK PEPPER BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell very little of anything, possibly light honey/sweet. The pieces vary in size from small to medium, and they are sliced thin to medium in thickness. The jerky is a bit hard and dry, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the strips of jerky, I encounter salt, at a decent level, mildly sweet, garlic, natural beef, and a very respectable amount of pepper.
I know McSweeney’s is a rather large brand label of jerky, but this flavour comes across more as an artisan jerky maker would have seasoned it, not a bigger manufacturer, who typically sacrifice flavour for volume. I have to give it to McSweeney’s. They have absolutely piqued my taste buds, rather favourably. This jerky tastes like more. I can very easily award a well-deserved 10/10 for this particular flavour. A very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍 Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
I agree with Paul. This McSweeney’s Peppered Beef Jerky comes across as a quality product. This jerky is all about the beef and the cracked black pepper flavor. I taste a slight sweetness, and it nicely defines the spiciness of the cracked black pepper. The texture is luscious, and it pleasantly sets this jerky apart from usual big brand label.
I can only find good things with the McSweeney’s Peppered Beef Jerky and it’s clearly a well-deserved 10/10 taste rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Cracked Black Pepper beef jerky flavour from McSweeney’s: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane for the honest taste reviews. I am in total agreement with both of you. True in that the cracked black pepper shines through with little sweetness present. Also true in that the beef used does not have a processed taste. It is a refreshing change to review a jerky flavour without soy sauce. The smoked flavour present blends in beautifully. I can find no fault whatsoever with this cracked black pepper flavour. Take a well-deserved bow McSweeney’s, it’s a unanimous Excellent (10/10) taste rating.”
This 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag was purchased for $6.99. That equates to $2.50 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This professional looking resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both front and back. There is a high resolution picture of people camping around a lake.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Proudly Canadian”. Some facts printed are “High in Protein”, “Low in Fat”, “Canadian Beef”, “Gluten Free”, “Naturally Smoked”, and “canadianjerky”.
There are no bag categories missing. There is a good blurb printed on the back about McSweeney’s. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided. You are encouraged to follow McSweeney’s on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To the credit of McSweeney’s a toll free number is provided for customer inquiries.
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