You have never tasted anything like it, try it - we guarantee you'll love it! Not every manufacturer comes out ala Dominos Pizza and shouts to the world that they don't suck anymore. The way I see it, a product is never in a "final" stage. There is always room for improvement, just ask Coca Cola. Oh wait, that was a failure. Well, not every improvement gets a positive response either. So the Original Coke recipe made a come-back but new Coke products are constantly sent to market.
Like Dominos and Coca Cola, Sograte BBQ & Beef Jerky is always seeking to improve the quality of our product. We strive to offer the very best quality products at the lowest possible price to provide the consumer with maximum value for their hard earned money. As a small, low production operation - our improvements come in many forms from changes in the production process to recipes and even the bags and equipment. Our changes come with no media production, no mega million dollar marketing campaign and usually no form of announcement at all.
Over the year of 2009, Sograte Beef Jerky was reviewed by several hot pepper and beef jery specialty sites. All of the reviews were good in general yet it can be disheartening when they don't scream to the universe that your product is the best thing they have ever tasted. The worst part is to have others make negative comments. GASP! What? I pour my heart into a product to make it stand out from the rest and you don't appreciate it? Yet, there is a good side to negative feed back too. You have to listen to what the people are saying about your product because this is likely what others are thinking even though you will never hear it.
In the spirit of constant improvement and striving to be the best beef jerky on the market, I listened to what the critics had to say. Hours and hours were spent researching methods to improve the weak areas of the jerky. Changes were silently implemented to the curing process which allowed for a softer more refined chewing texture yet maintained the ideals behind Sograte Beef Jerky. Modifications to the seasoning spice blend were implemented to soften the saltiness without sacrificing flavor. The end result was a beef jerky product that is more tender and flavorful with every bite with a much improved chewing texture.
So what are these ideals behind Sograte Beef Jerky, you ask? Thank you for asking. The original intent of Sograte Beef Jerky was to make a beef jerky product using the same seasoning and spice blend as our award winning barbecue along with the finest lean meats, smoked over a live hickory fire for authentic Texas barbecue flavor that could be enjoyed any where in the world. Even after our "new and improved" changes, we continue to be one of the few (the only?) manufacturers that does not use a soy sauce marinade and liquid smoke, rather dry rubbed and hickory smoked over a live smoke house fire.
One of the hardest things about being a small production manufacturer is consistency. We do not have multi-million dollar facilities filled with high tech equipment in a controlled environment that is capable of producing countless pounds of beef jerky that never varies from day to day or week to week or even piece to piece. No, we use a live fire in a real barbecue smoke house that is exposed to the daily elements and we hand cut each and every piece with an 8" chef's knife. Some pieces end up thicker or maybe thinner than most and some my be dryer or softer than the rest. While this process may not turn out perfect jerky slices with endless repeatability, we think it lends to the charm of a hand made product.
Now, where is the big media blitz about the new and improved beef jerky? This is it! A measly blog post. You wont be seeing any TV spots or hear any radio ads telling you why are product no longer sucks. We will simply continue working making the best beef jerky that we can and we hope that you will enjoy it.
Now go forth and try some Sograte Beef Jerky for yourself. And remember - if you love it, tell the world, if you hate it, tell me!