Chef Craig's Beef Jerky - Original

One the newest jerky brands on the market is Chef Craig's Beef Jerky. A product of CJM Products, it's based out of West Kingston, RI.

It's the idea of Craig Mitchell, who a few years ago, had sent me samples of his own homemade jerky, with the intent of launching a business someday. Mitchell received his Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales University, and has been cooking professionally since 1978.

As of this review, the only flavor Chef Craig's offers is this Original.

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Kratos Beef Sticks - Original

Kratos, the brand of beef bars we reviewed a few years ago, recently introduced a new line of beef sticks.

Kratos is a brand owned by QuarterShare International, LLC, based in Tulsa, OK. The parent company happens to sell a line of meat sticks under the QuarterShare name, but are not 100% beef.

These new sticks from Kratos, however, are 100% beef, and made with a different recipe. The beef was raised without added hormones, no antibiotics, vegetarian fed, and minimally processed. The beef used is also "GAP Step 1" (Global Animal Partnership). These sticks are also stamped as "Certified Gluten Free".

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Jedidiah's Beef Jerky - Cowboy

Billed as one of the company's top selling varieties, this Cowboy style from Jedidiah's Beef Jerky is meant to be a throwback to the old days of campfire cooking, saddle sores, and pesky indians. Jedidiah's Jerky was started by David Coffey, a veteran of the beef jerky business, having taken his first bite of the industry in 1984, when he went to work for Polley's Beef Jerky. In 2005, he went to work for himself by starting Jedidiah's Jerky. Based out of Beatty, NV, Coffey also runs a chain of beef jerky outlets called, "Jed's Jerky", with locations throughout Nevada and California.

This "Cowboy Style" is more of a man's jerky, made with no added sugar, just simple seasonings and strong dose of cracked black pepper corns.

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Whiskey Hill Smokehouse - Elk Jerky

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse is a brand owned and operated by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC, based out of Hubbard, OR. The company also owns The Jerky Hut brand of jerky, along with Bakke Brothers Brand.

According to the company, the Whiskey Hill Smokehouse brand focuses on exotic meats and more exotic recipes than The Jerky Hut and the Bakke Brothers lines. It also focuses on all natural ingredients and its jerky varieties are all marked as "Gluten Free".

Whiskey Hill Smokehouse describes this Elk Jerky as being made in a, "new natural Gluten Free recipe".

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Mike's Jerky - Butter Mesquite

Mike's Jerky recently introduced some new flavors. See my reviews of other flavors from Mike's Jerky.

Mike's Jerky is based out of Albuquerque, NM, owned and operated by Mike Grier. It's a New Mexico Style of jerky where its sliced thin, dried crisp, and crunches when you bite into it, yet still chewing like real meat.

This Butter Mesquite beef jerky is described by the company as, "Butter makes everything better!"

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Beefy Boys Beef Jerky - Peppered

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky is a brand owned by John Bailey, based out of Salinas, CA. The brand has been around since 1999.

Manufactured in their very own USDA inspected facility, Beefy Boys is made from top round sourced from a supplier located 120 miles from their plant, then marinated and cooked using an old family recipe.

This Peppered variety is described by the company as being made with a "secret family recipe dating back to 1963", being exactly as the first recipe ever made by Beefy Boys, with the addition of black pepper. It's said to be more mild than their over flavors, but that the pepper puts some kick into it.

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Jerky's Gourmet - Craft Beer

Jerky's Gourmet is a new brand of jerky, founded by Tim Gerstman and Andria Taylor, based out of San Diego, CA. Gerstman, who transplated to San Diego from the East Coast 8 years ago, met Andria who also happened to love beef jerky. The two joined forces and launched Jerky's Gourmet.

The pair can be found at farmers markets across the San Diego area doling out taste samples. Their jerky is also sold at various stores and shops across town, and also sell from their website.

This "Craft Beer" jerky is part of their "Top Shelf Line" of alcohol-infused jerky, and was inspired by San Diego's love of craft beer. According to Jerky's Gourmet, "It packs a bold punch of traditional spices and, of course, lots of premium beer. We use the best domestic pale ale in our marinade to bring the on-tap flavor of hops and barley that will make your mouth water!"

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Crazy Horse Jerky - Million Dollar Bacon Jerky

Crazy Horse Jerky recently developed their own Bacon Jerky. They sent us a sample for review.

Unlike other bacon jerky brands, Crazy Horse uses thick chunks of bacon opposed to thin strips. They use a hickory smoked bacon from a local butcher, cut into bite-sized chunks, then smother it with their blend of sweet & spicy seasonings. To finish it off, it's baked in a convection oven.

Crazy Horse Jerky is based out of Hellam, PA, run by Dave Wenrich and Cara Wenrich. The brand is known for its real wood smoked jerky, smoked in an old walk-in smoker, hand-crafted and small-batched in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

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Bakke Brothers Brand Jerky - Teriyaki

Bakke Brothers Brand is owned by Whiskey Hill Smokehouse, LLC based out of Hubbard, OR. Whiskey Hill also owns The Jerky Hut, as well as its own house brand, Whiskey Hill Smokehouse.

Bakke Brothers was started by Phil Bakke, one of Whiskey Hill's founders. The brand differs from The Jerky Hut in that it's free of preservatives such as sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, et al, and it's also gluten-free.

This Teriyaki Beef Jerky is marketed as, "Gluten Free", "No MSG", and "No Nitrates", and other than that, is simple marked, "Teriyaki".

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Jedidiah's Jerky - Beef Brisket Spicy Memphis Style BBQ

This "Spicy Memphis Style BBQ" is a new flavor from Jedidiah's Jerky. It's part of their revamped line up of beef brisket jerky.

Jedidiah's Jerky is a brand that we reviewed before (read the reviews here). Some time ago, they reintroduced their line of jerky with new recipes and new branding, and moved their headquarters from Laughlin, NV to Beatty, NV. Jedidiah's Jerky also has since opened up a chain of beef jerky stores called, "Jed's Jerky" throughout Nevada and California.

This "Spicy Memphis Style BBQ" is pretty new, and should start showing up on the company's website soon.

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