Hardtimes Beef Jerky is a U.S. based snack brand, founded in 2005, focuses on producing traditional-style beef jerky through a small-batch, handcrafted approach. The company emphasizes authenticity and simplicity, using hand trimmed, sliced (not ground or pressed) cuts of 100% American beef combined with high quality marinades and spices to create a more classic, old school jerky texture and flavor. Known for its “sliced, not pressed” philosophy, the brand avoids additives like MSG and positions its products as low carb, clean label snacks.
Hardtimes Beef Jerky offers a range of formats, including bags, jars, samplers, and even a unique “beef jerky chew”, while maintaining a distinct identity built around rugged, straightforward snacking. With its signature touch of including a toothpick in every pack and its focus on bold, no frills quality, Hardtimes Beef Jerky appeals to consumers seeking a more traditional, hearty jerky experience rather than the softer, highly processed styles common in mass market brands. This Hardtimes Beef Jerky jerky brand is distributed under the same name of Hardtimes Beef Jerky, located in El Reno, Oklahoma.
The first review on Hardtimes Beef Jerky will focus on a 2.25 ounce/63 gram bag of Black Pepper flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a Fastrip Store at a gas station in Mojave, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate; Less Than 1/10 of 1% as a Preservative), Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Molasses, Sugar, Water, Salt, Onions, Anchovies, Garlic, Cloves, Tamarind Extract, Natural Flavorings, Chili Pepper Extract), Liquid Smoke, Cayenne Pepper, Garlic Salt, Sodium Nitrite, and Sprayed with Pottasium Sorbate to Ensure Quality. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Anchovies
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 an average soy sauce, a well-respected brand of Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke.
The only healthy ingredient added is cayenne pepper.
The sugar level is perfect at 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 530mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite, as sodium nitrite is used outright as a preservative along with potassium sorbate to lose a rating. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
HARDTIMES BEEF JERKY – BLACK PEPPER BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell absolutely nothing. No aroma whatsoever is emanating from the bag. The strips are medium in size and sliced rather thin. The jerky is very dry and crispy, exactly as our forefathers intended. There is obviously no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky, I am immediately impressed with the texture and dryness. The first flavors I encounter are salt at a high but within reason level, next to no sweetness, the garlic is noticeable but not intense, and the pepper is coming through in spades. D*mn, this flavor is incredible!! The pepper is crazy good, just exactly as advertised. This jerky tastes like more, much, much more!! This flavor is insanely delicious, obviously earning the highest possible award, a 300/10. And no, that is not a typo. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Black Pepper beef jerky flavor from Hardtimes Beef Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the glowing taste review. Black pepper is one of our favorite jerky flavors, and on my first bite, I knew that Paul was in for a treat. The texture is your traditional, classic tough and dry, but sliced thin so that it’s not so bad on your teeth. While the flavor of black pepper is present, it is not overly bold, but at a passable level. As Paul stated, the lack of sweetness is highly appreciated.”
Paul stated that the texture is crispy, which is not your classic crispy jerky, but arguably borderline crispy. The natural flavor of beef has no hint whatsoever of tasting processed. In the background, there is the familiar blend of Worcestershire and soy sauce, a very popular variation of a recipe used by multiple successful jerky brands. The smokiness is at a light level. A no doubter Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!!👍👍
A 2.25 ounce/63 gram bag of jerky sells online for $8.99, which equates to $4.50 an ounce. That rates as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear plastic resealable bag has everything printed on the front and back of the bag with no labels affixed. There is an illustration of what looks like a hobo in the Hardtimes Beef Jerky logo.
There are no slogans printed, although the word HARDTIMES is a registered trademark. Some facts printed are “Made in the USA”, “Smoke Flavor Added”, and “No MSG Added”.
The only missing bag category is a missing soy/wheat/anchovy allergen alert. There is a small but good blurb printed about the jerky. To the credit of Hardtimes Beef Jerky, impressively, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries to the owner, J.W. Tennery.
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