Tired of big brand jerky, Shawn Scott set out to do something about it. In October 2019, Shawn launched Local Jerky Plus. I had the opportunity to visit their storefront/plant where the jerky is manufactured. Things are going well with Local Jerky Plus being sold in over 700 stores with designs to expand. Plans are in the works to sell Local Jerky Plus in different provinces. This Local Jerky Plus jerky brand name is located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and is distributed under the same name as Local Jerky Plus.
The next review for Local Jerky Plus will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of Cracked Pepper & Garlic flavoured beef jerky. This jerky was graciously submitted by president Shawn Scott.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Salt, Sugar, Spices, Sodium Nitrite, Sodium Carbonate, Cure: Sodium Bicarbonate and Glycerol (As a Curing Aid), Flavor.
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.
There is no liquid marinade used here. Some people would call this old fashioned jerky or a jerky rub.
The sugar level is acceptable at 7 grams of sugar per 80 grams of sugar. The salt level is adequate at 710mg of salt per 80 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have any sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright to lose a rating. Commendably, there is no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
LOCAL JERKY PLUS – CRACKED PEPPER & GARLIC BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell soy and natural beef. The pieces are quite large but thin. The texture is dry and chewy, just as our forefathers intended.
When I bite into the jerky I immediately detect the salt, which is at an intense level, which is okay with me but likely a little too much for your average consumer. To a lesser degree, I also detect the pepper, garlic, soy/vinegar, and natural beef. This is a decent tasting flavour, but it’s not blowing me away. It’s good but not great. Plus, I’m guessing the salt is probably too intense for most, so I am rating this flavour as an 8/10, although I would be willing to go as high as 9 if that’s necessary. Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
Local Jerky Plus – Cracked Pepper & Garlic Beef Jerky is quite salty. The flavor varies substantially between each piece and within the same strip. The first few small bites had a strong taste of soya sauce, some beef flavor, some garlic, and light black pepper. I continued sampling each piece, taking small bites each time. The soya sauce was inconsistent, and the garlic and black pepper remained very light throughout. The aroma is fine, and the texture is quite leathery, which is also fine, as most jerky has various degrees of dryness.
I wasn’t impressed with the Local Jerky Plus – Cracked Pepper & Garlic Beef Jerky. I find this jerky is perhaps too salty for most people, the garlic and cracked black pepper are far too weak, and the significantly inconsistent flavor of the product does not make for a very favorable experience. I’d rate this jerky 7/10 Taste Rating at best due to far too many technical issues.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Cracked Pepper & Garlic beef jerky flavor from Local Jerky Plus: “Thanks Stéphane and Paul for the honest taste reviews. I agree with all points stated. Yes, this jerky is salty tasting, and the texture is quite dry and tough, which gives your teeth a serious workout. I did notice visually that the seasoning on the strips is not consistent, and that is true even bite to bite. Most disappointing is that I barely picked up on the cracked black pepper and garlic to lose two taste ratings. While the black pepper and garlic are present at light levels, it nowhere earns the flavour name of Cracked Pepper & Garlic.”
“Otherwise, this old fashioned style jerky is enjoyable for people who enjoy a tough and dry jerky texture. For the record, soy is not a listed ingredient. I seem to pick up on the smokiness. With Stéphane at a 7 rating, Paul at an 8 rating, and I at an 8 taste rating (I could have knocked it down to a 7 with the excessive saltiness), a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of beef jerky sells for $10.99. That works out to $3.93 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Bag Review
This resealable silver coloured bag has a label attached to the front and nothing on the back.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only facts displayed are “Gluten-Free” and “Ontario Made”.
Some missing bag categories are a blurb printed about this jerky, a best before date, and French translations as per Canadian law. A batch number is provided, which could likely translate to a best before date.
Check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LocalJerkyPlus
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