Review: Jack Link's All American Beef & Cheese

I’m at work. It’s 4PM and I’m starting to get a bit hungry. I spy the Jack Link’s All American Beef & Cheese sitting on my desk. I think you know where this is headed.

The beef stick looks pretty straightforward. Not too big, not too small; not too thick, not too thin. The cheese looks questionable. From my experience, most of these combination snacks have cheese of a lesser quality so I’m a little apprehensive to try it.

I can’t decide which to eat first. Do I want the meat first and risk an unpleasant cheese for last? Should I save the meat for last? Decisions, decisions. Still undecided, I tear open the package. My nose gets a whiff of cheese first, so I decide I might as well dive into that.

The cheese is slightly hard and dry. Almost crumbly. I pick up on a nice hint of smokiness. The initial bites are not enjoyable but they are not bad, either. After a few bites it grows on you. It becomes tolerable and aaaaaaaaalmost enjoyable. It’s still nothing exciting and I can’t shake that overly-processed taste. Finishing it is a bit of a chore. I’m looking forward to the end, so I can move on to the beef stick. When finished, I’m feeling relieved.

Beef time!

I get in close and take a big sniff. It has a classic smoky and sweet smell. It looks a bit greasy, but still very appetizing. The first bite: Firm, moist and…crisp? A good balance of casing and meat inside. The texture is meaty and hearty – not stringy.

There’s a well rounded flavor. Nothing specific stands out, just an overall balanced flavor. A hint of spice; a hint of sweet; a hint of smoke. A bit of slightly peppery aftertaste. Not salty, but not lacking. With each bite, I look forward to the next one.

I finish the stick. From start to finish, I enjoyed the whole thing. I would definitely eat this stick again. I’d take a pass on the cheese.