Note: For a more current taste review, open up Branding Iron – Peppered Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
I first discovered Branding Iron beef jerky back in 2010 on a trip to California. This jerky brand name may be named JW Branding Iron. The ingredient list has since been cleaned up by removing MSG and sodium nitrite. This Branding Iron jerky brand is distributed under the name of J.W. Distributing Inc., and it is located in Lindon, California, USA. This Branding Iron jerky brand is manufactured by the private labeler company Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks Inc., and it is located in Tillamook, Oregon.
The first review on Branding Iron will focus on a 3.2 ounce/91 gram bag of their Peppered flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a gas station in Oxnard, California, USA, in January 2014.
Ingredient Review
Beef, Brown Sugar, Water, Salt, Spices, Monosodium Glutamate, Garlic Powder, 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 consists of just water.
The sugar level is on the high side at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of sugar to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 640mg 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 as sodium nitrite is used outright to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added as the cheap flavor enhancer MSG is used to lose another rating.
Fair (4/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
BRANDING IRON – PEPPERED BEEF JERKY (RECIPE #1)
Note: For a more current taste review open up Branding Iron – Peppered Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
These strips of jerky were sliced to both a medium thickness and size. The texture is dry and leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
Honestly, not much is remembered about this flavor. It would have been sweet and salty for sure. A Decent (7/10) taste rating will be awarded.
This 3.2 ounce/85 gram bag of jerky sold for $4.99, which equates to $1.56 an ounce. That was rated as a cheap price back in 2014.
Bag Review
This gold non-resealable plastic bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only fact printed on this bag is “Cracked Pepper”.
Some missing bag categories are the jerky weight not stated in grams, a blurb about this jerky and/or flavor, graphics, and quite a bit of unused space. To the credit of Branding Iron, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
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