Backattack Snacks officially launched their jerky brand in 2016 by husband and wife Brian and Lauren Back to provide consumers a healthy snack alternative without the need for a Ph.D. in chemistry to understand what they are eating. The way they make jerky is simple: no preservatives and no added processed sugars. No BS – only the best USDA choice Angus beef you can buy. Following this minimalist mantra, their original recipe beef jerky boasts amazing umami flavor (when all of your taste buds work together), the beef’s flavor can shine through. Call them crazy, but they believe beef jerky should taste like beef.
Owner Brian Back brings over 15 years of professional culinary experience, including Chef de Tournant, Saucier Chef, Marketing Chef, and Culinary Instructor throughout the Ohio region. Co-owner Lauren Back brings ten years of educational leadership and training experience to Backattack Snacks.
Their original recipe is simple and always Keto compliant. They don’t have to say this is the best beef jerky you’ve ever had because you’ll say it for them. Backattack Snacks is distributed under the same name as Backattack Snacks, and it is located in Brook Park, Ohio.
Backattack Snacks submitted their two jerky flavors for review, including a carne asada flavor, which I find to be the most interesting jerky flavor out there. We were seriously tempted to review the carne asada flavor first. Instead, we chose to review this Original Recipe flavor first, voted Best Beef Jerky in Cleveland by Cleveland Magazine for an original flavor back in 2018.
The first review on Backattack Snacks will focus on a 2.5 ounce/70 gram bag of their Original Recipe flavored Angus beef jerky. This flavor is described as being as pure as possible. Vice President Lauren Back kindly submitted this jerky for review.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Angus Beef, Liquid Aminos (Vegetable Protein from NON-GMO Soybeans and Purified Water), Smoked Sea Salt, Onion Powder, Crushed Red Pepper, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Black Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy
The Angus beef used is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle have partial 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 only healthy but controversial liquid aminos.
Some healthy ingredients are added, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. The light heat is achieved from crushed red chili peppers and cayenne pepper, which are healthy if eaten in moderation.
The sugar level is perfect at 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is acceptable at 310mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives added. Instead, minimally processed smoked sea salt is the main preservative. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
BACKATTACK SNACKS – ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell natural beef. I even think I might be smelling slight soy. The pieces are rather large in size, and they are sliced somewhat thin. The jerky is hard(ish) and a bit dry, but this texture really impresses me. There is no oily residue left on your fingers handing these strips.
When I bite into the jerky I am met with some seriously scrumptious flavors. The salt is at a perfect level. There is next to no sweet (bonus). I also detect garlic, onion, soy, and copious amounts of natural beef. This jerky flavor is quite bloody impressive. There is a prevalent taste, but I can’t put my finger on it for the life of me.
I detect slight heat as I see the odd chili flake, and my oh my, is this a spectacular flavor of jerky. Is the secret ingredient butter? I feel like I may be eating buttered popcorn. Orville, did you assist in making this flavor? (😝🤪). All kidding aside, this is one ridiculously tasty flavor, not so much of a back attack as it is a succulent flavor attack. Count me in, I frickin’ love this flavor. A no brainer 10/10. Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The Backattack Snacks Original Beef Jerky left me a bit puzzled. On the one hand, I enjoyed the taste, and on the other, I do not really taste the beef or any other flavors besides salt and soy sauce. I suspect some jerky aficionado searching for a more refined jerky experience or a preference for complexity and balance of flavors may be disappointed.
This jerky is essentially not spicy at all. However, I had a couple of bites that were surprisingly quite spicy.
I wish I could have picked up on more flavors or find more depth in the flavor profile. I believe these are significant technical issues, and I’d rate this jerky 7 or 8 out of 10 taste rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this original recipe beef jerky flavor from Backattack Snacks: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane for the honest taste reviews. When Backattack Snacks first contacted us about reviewing their jerky, I knew them by name but nothing else. After researching Backattack Snacks, I felt as if we had a diamond in the rough here with their healthy approach to jerky, and we were right.”
“Honest to God, this original recipe is not just one of the best original flavors this year but of all time. With over 900 jerky reviews published to date, this original recipe is amongst the best 5 or 10 of all time for an original flavor. Interestingly this flavor is described as having an amazing umami flavor, where usually the term umami is reserved for describing the taste of mushroom jerky, which I have never understood. Still, Stéphane experiences umami unlike Paul and I with mushroom jerky.”
“When I looked at the ingredient list of wonderful spices, I thought for sure that this jerky would be spicy with the cayenne pepper and crushed red chili peppers, and not to mention black pepper. True, there is a light kick to this flavor, but the kick only intensifies the other flavors to the nth degree, including the beef. But as attested to Stéphane, who is very sensitive to spiciness, perhaps this flavor is too spicy for some.”
“The overall taste profile is fabulous and scrumptious or spectacular as Paul described it but perhaps not for everybody who has an aversion to faint/light spiciness. For Paul and I, the thing Paul could not quite put his finger on, this original recipe is the ultimate umami flavor. Take a well-deserved bow Backattack Snacks. A very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍
This 2.5 ounce/70 gram bag of jerky sells online for $13.00, which works out to $5.20 an ounce. That rates at a very expensive price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear resealable bag has labels attached to both the front and back. The Backattack Snacks logo states that they were established in 2015.
A slogan printed on this bag is “High Quality Snacks”. Some facts printed on this bag are “Premium Hand Crafted”, “Minimally Processed”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, Gluten Free”, “No Preservatives”, “Sugar Free”, and “Backattack Beef Jerky Unopened, Has a 1-Year Shelf Life”.
The only missing bag categories is a soy allergen alert. There is an excellent blurb printed on the back describing Backattack Snacks and this flavor. Commendably, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
This bag could rate as a 7 bag rating with the missing allergen alert. However, this bag has such a simple, beautiful clean look, a Good (8/10) bag rating will be awarded.
Order their jerky online: www.backattacksnacks.com
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