Alpha Craft Jerky is a brand that offers small-batch, hand-crafted jerky made from USDA-inspected meats. The brand emphasizes quality by hand-cutting, seasoning, and packing products, distinguishing itself from mass-produced jerky options. Known for various flavors, Alpha Craft Jerky caters to a wide range of tastes while maintaining an artisanal approach to jerky production. Their dedication to quality and flavor makes them a standout choice in the craft jerky market.
This Alpha Craft Jerky brand is distributed under the name of Alpha Craft Snacks Inc., located in Pinon Hills, California.
The first review on Alpha Craft jerky will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of Whiskey BBQ flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at an Arco gas station in Lebec, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, BBQ Sauce (Tomato Puree [Water, Tomato Paste], Corn Syrup, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Mustard [Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Tumeric, Paprika, Spices], Distilled Vinegar, Less than 2% of Modified Food Starch, Molasses, Lemon Juice Concentrate), Worcestershire Sauce (Water, Molasses, Salt, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Acetic Acid, Caramel Color, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein [Soy], Gluten Free Slower [Millet Flour, Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch, Rice Flour Whole Grain Sorghum, Xanthan Gum], Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Benzoate of Soda), BBQ Seasoning (Brown Sugar, Salt, Spices, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Smoke Flavor, Spice Extracts), Sunflower Oil [Mfg. Aid], Honey, Water, Cayenne Pepper, Whiskey, Garlic, Liquid Smoke, Sodium Nitrite. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
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 is comprised of a fair BBQ sauce, an unhealthy brand of Worcestershire sauce, sunflower oil, honey, water, liquid smoke, and not so healthy whiskey.
Some healthy ingredients added are spices, paprika, onion, garlic, spice extractives, cayenne pepper, and garlic.
The sugar level is extremely high at 9 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 5 grams of sugar and under per 28 grams of jerky for a sweet flavor like the one we have here. The Worcestershire sauce and BBQ sauce contain the lousy sweetener high fructose corn syrup to lose another rating.
The salt level is a little high at 390mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
Unhealthy sodium nitrite is used as a preservative to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added because the cheap, highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used to lose another rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
ALPHA CRAFT JERKY – WHISKEY BBQ BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell barbecue, and not much else. It is one huge slice. The slice is medium thickness and has a red hue, probably from the marinade (likely heavy on tomatoes and/or ketchup). The jerky is more rigid than some, but still not as tough as I would personally like.
When I bite into the jerky I taste salt at a light level and sweet at a level that is not crazy, but I would have preferred the sweetness to be milder. I also taste the barbecue flavor, but it is not too intense. I taste mild garlic and onion, along with mild pepper. I might also be tasting vinegar in the background. However, as you predicted, I am tasting none of the whiskey whatsoever. It is, to me, nonexistent.
Overall, it has a decent taste, but I can go no higher than an 8/10, but I’m leaning toward a 7/10.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Whiskey BBQ beef jerky flavor from Alpha Craft Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. I mostly agree with your taste review. As with any whiskey based flavor, the whiskey flavor is very difficult (and not to mention expensive) to replicate, and the flavor of whiskey here is pretty much nonexistent. However, the barbecue aspect is done well. I quibble with Paul on this flavor being too sweet. The sweetness is arguably on par for a barbecue flavor.”
“The tomato aspect from the barbecue sauce comes across well, with no shortage of flavor here. While this flavor has a certain addictive quality, I cannot say there is much of a ‘wow’ factor. All in all, an enjoyable snack for tomato barbecue based lovers. With Paul at a 7 and myself at an 8, a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag of jerky sells for $8.99, which equates to $3.00 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This silver, resealable bag has a label on the front and nothing on the back.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed are “Premium”, “Hand-Crafted”, “Tasty”, “Liquid Smoke Added”, and “Bioengineered”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about Alpha Craft Jerky or this flavor. An Instagram handle is displayed.
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