Established in 2019, Anthem Snacks is a premium, veteran-owned meat snack company founded by former Green Beret Nate Kouhana. After his military service, Nate and his wife settled in Montana, driven by a passion for the outdoors and a commitment to contribute to what makes the country great—the freedom to pursue one’s best self and to serve with pride. Anthem’s values reflect a deep gratitude towards those who protect freedoms and serve communities, dedicating 10% of profits to veteran and first responder nonprofit organizations.
Their products are handcrafted in small batches using 100% premium beef, marinated with simple ingredients, and slow-cooked to perfection with real wood smoke, ensuring mouthwatering flavor and tenderness. Anthem Snacks aims to fuel the adventures and patriotic spirit of hardworking Americans who value quality and community service. This Anthem Jerky brand is distributed under the name of Anthem Snacks, located in Gallatin Gateway, Montana. This jerky is manufactured by Glenwood Snacks, LLC., and is located in Saint Anthony, Idaho.
The first review on Anthem Jerky will focus on a 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of Bourbon flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as infusing Anthem’s tender beef with just the right hint of bourbon to create a sweet and bold-tasting jerky. The bag was purchased at a Wegmans store in Niagara Falls, New York.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Brown Sugar, Water, Bourbon, Less than 2% of: Salt, Honey, Natural Flavors, Apple Juice Concentrate, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sodium Nitrite.
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 water and not so healthy bourbon from veteran owned Willie’s Distillery in Ennis, Montana, healthy honey, healthy apple juice concentrate, and healthy lemon juice concentrate.
The vague term natural flavors is used, which can contain healthy and unhealthy ingredients.
The sugar level is sky high at 10 grams of sugar per 28 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 high at 500mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose another rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright as a preservative to lose a rating. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
ANTHEM JERKY – BOURBON BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell very little, possibly slight vinegar. The pieces are medium in size and sliced thin to medium. The jerky is dry and semi-rigid, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I am met with minimal salt and a little too much sweet, possibly due to the bourbon. I do definitely taste the bourbon. I really do not detect much of any garlic or onion, and next to no pepper as well.
The jerky is a bit too sweet for me, but outside of that, it is a mostly enjoyable snack that would appeal to the general public.
I would rate this jerky as an 8/10.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Bourbon beef jerky flavor from Anthem Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. You pretty much covered everything here. The bourbon taste comes across fairly well, especially considering that bourbon is a tricky flavor to capture in jerky. As with Paul, there is more sweetness present than what we would have liked. I could not pick up on any of the natural wood smoke flavor. The natural beef flavor is at a standard level with no hint of tasting processed. A unanimous Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.5 ounce/113 gram bag of jerky costs $5.99, which equates to $2.40 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This plastic resealable bag has everything imprinted onto the bag, both on the front and back. The Anthem Jerky logo is interesting, which sort of resembles a stylized “A” or “M” with a triangle, which could be interpreted as an upside “A”.
A slogan displayed on this bag is “Made With Purpose”. Some facts printed are “Premium Beef”, “Made in the USA”, “ESTD 2019”, “Veteran Owned”, “Official Partner UFC”, “Meat Ready-To-Eat (MRE)”, “Made With 100% Premium Beef”, “Made With Real Wood Smoke”, “Gluten-Free”, “Great Source of Protein”, and “Willie’s Distillery – Ennis, Montana”. 10% of profits go to veteran and first responder organizations with a QR code.
The only missing bag category is an establishment number.
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