In 1997, a band of three young, small-time crooks developed a recipe for a highly potent substance that went by the street name “Jerky”. Within weeks, jerky flooded the streets of Chester Counter, PA. The gang was moving 10 kilos a week – pushing in the back alleys, the street corners, and the recess yards. Supply couldn’t keep up with demand, and the boys got sloppy. In the fall of ’98, a deal went awry in the ninth grade hallway bathroom when a teacher caught the boy’s mid-chew. The three received four harrowing hours of after-school detention without parole.
While on the inside, they conspired with a cellmate who went by the name of “G-off”, a notorious carnivore known for two things: a distribution network that stretched from Brazil to British Columbia and an insatiable thirst for meat. It was this unlikely cellmate-ship that would ultimately change the course of jerky trafficking and American history forever. This Righteous Felon jerky brand is distributed under the name Righteous Felon, LLC., and it is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
The first review on Righteous Felon will focus on a 2 ounce/56.7 gram bag of O.G. Hickory flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as a savory, smoky, hickory flavor that started it all. The bag was purchased at a Wawa gas station in Hereford, Pennsylvania.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Tamari Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Sugar), Brown Sugar, Vinegar, Molasses, Garlic, Natural Smoke Flavor, Paprika, Onion, Spices, Chili Powder, Sea Salt, Cloves. Allergen Warnings: Soy
This beef is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle are guaranteed to have some free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of a respected brand of tamari soy sauce and healthy vinegar.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic, paprika, onion, spices, chili powder, and cloves.
The sugar level is respectable at 4 grams of sugar per 56 grams of jerky. The salt level is low at 340mg of salt per 56 grams of jerky.
As advertised, this jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservatives used are salt and vinegar to a lesser extent. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
RIGHTEOUS FELON – O.G. HICKORY BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I seem to be smelling barbecue, which is not uncommon because, if my memory serves me correctly, hickory and barbecue smell rather similar. The pieces are small in size and sliced to a medium thickness. The hue of the jerky is somewhat jerky’s hue is darker than most, leading me to believe that it has more than your usual amount of marinade, which is not necessarily bad.
When I bite into the jerky I like what I am tasting. We both discussed how hickory flavor most closely resembles an original flavor, which is the case here, but the hickory flavor is more intense than it would be if it was purely original.
I am detecting very pleasurable levels of both salt and sweet. I am definitely picking up on the hickory flavor, it enhances the taste. I gave both of my dogs a small piece, and they agreed that this jerky flavor is really tasty. It tastes like “more”. I can, with a clear conscience, easily award this flavor of jerky as a 10/10, it is quite tasty. My only minor issue is that I personally wish the jerky was a bit more rigid (dry), but with the dark hue, the amount of marinade would likely not allow it to be any more rigid or dry. A small issue, not worth deducting a point. It’s more of a personal preference.
Here is what Mark had to say about this O.G. Hickory beef jerky flavor from Righteous Felon: “Thanks Paul for the positive taste review. Righteous Felon has been on my radar for a long time, possibly even ten years. My awesome wife Stephanie was visiting Massachusetts and texted me a picture of a jerky display with Righteous Felon front and center. Buy Righteous Felon please, and here we are today. With several popular brands that I know, I had high expectations going into the taste review. I must say that Righteous Felon does not disappoint. Their O.G. Hickory flavor tastes surprisingly like my original homemade jerky and even better, referred to as the flavor that started it all.
The soy tastes high quality and it has a similar taste to pineapple. The sweetness is light, and the saltiness is reasonable. This natural beef flavor is great tasting, a slight step above your regular beef jerky. The smokiness was noticeable but not overwhelming. While my homemade original beef jerky had a simpler taste profile, the additions of cloves, paprika, and chili powder make this flavor taste even better.
Paul nailed it by saying that this flavor tastes like more, and I struggled not to consume my portion in one sitting. Paul’s minor complaint about the jerky not being rigid enough is a non-issue. A unanimous, Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded. Take a well-deserved bow Righteous Felon.”
This 2 ounce/56.7 gram bag of jerky sells for $6.99, which equates to $3.50 an ounce. That rates as a borderline average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This brown paper colored bag has everything imprinted on it, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag. The Righteous Felon logo has a cow with an eye patch getting a mug shot.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed are “Gluten Free”, “All Natural”, “20g Protein”, “Craft Jerky”, “Smoke Flavor Added”, “The Smoky & Savory O.G. Classic”, “Minimally Processed”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, and “Made in America”. All of the Righteous Felon jerky flavors are listed on the back. A portion of proceeds go to The Conservative Alliance to help protect America’s wild places.
The only missing bag category is a transparent window to view the jerky. A great blurb about Righteous Felon is displayed on the back. The @rightesoufelon handle is displayed along with a #writeyourownrules hashtag. A QR code is displayed on the back, linking to Righteous rewards and discounts.
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