We're about halfway through summer, but there's still plenty of time for an epic getaway. Whether you're driving cross-country or just getting outside the city for a weekend, you won't want to hit the road without snacks.  And we'd like to tell you why jerky's the best choice to fuel your drive. 

10 Reasons Jerky Rules for Roadtrips: 

1. You're gonna' get sick of fast food french fries. 
2. Jerky won't melt all over your upholstery, unlike chocolate.
3. Need a moment of quiet in the car? Jerky takes a while to chew, so it'll keep your traveling companions' mouths busy. 
4. Gas station snacks just don't deliver. And boy are they overpriced! 
5. It's full of protein to keep you from getting hangry.
6. Sodium helps prevent dehydration - so you can drink less and make fewer stops! 
7. There's nothing better than eating meat at 70mph! 
8.  You can match your meat to your destination. Going to Louisiana? How 'bout some Cajun Alligator?
9. Jerky sticks are a great space saver if you're packing light. 
10. EVERYBODY loves jerky! 

Ten reasons not enough to make jerky your go-to roadtrip snack? We'll give you one more. Use code ROADTRIPPIN17 at checkout for 10% off! (Good through 8/15/2017). 

Dads are worth celebrating. At least Richard Nixon thought so when he made Father's Day a national holiday in 1972. And when it comes to Father's Day, folks across the globe have all sorts of traditions. In Thailand,  dads get Canna Lilies, and apparently in Germany, men load up wagons of beer and liqour and pull them into the woods. Here in the U.S. it varies - Dad might recieve a card, the traditional necktie, or a new tool. Or if you've accepted Jimmy Kimmel's Father's Day challenge, a big surprise. 

But the biggest surprise of all for your pops might be doing something a little different this year. Something that he can enjoy for days, weeks, months to come. Something he can brag to his buddies about. You guessed it - Jerky. 

Apparently only the cool kids are doing it. If you're crafty in the kitchen you can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Gronk and Richard Sherman.  They're giving their dads jerky neckties. What's even better than a necktie? An ammo can filled with his favorite snack that he can display proudly in his office, or possibly some alcohol jerky to enjoy with his friends. We've got a whole page of our store dedicated to the perfect Father's Day gift, and you can't go wrong with any of our options. 

Here's hoping all the dads out there feel really special this year. If you think your kids need a hint on what to get you, feel free to email them this blog post. You won't regret it. 

Planning your summer nuptials? You’re not the only one. The summer months are incredibly popular for weddings. While fall weddings are gaining popularity, 13% of all weddings happen in June. 

Why June? Perhaps you picked June because you’re a fan of mid-century-musicals, and “They say when you marry in June you’re a bride all your life, and the bridegroom who married in June gets a sweetheart for a wife.” Or maybe you’re a history buff, and follow the Celtic calendar, or wanted to marry in the month named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth. Obscure trivia your guide to life? How’s the “great unwashed” for a reason? There’s a chance you might simply want to walk the aisle in June because it’s your summer vacation, or the right flowers are in bloom.

Regardless of your reason, we’re here to help - no matter what side of the shindig you’re on.

If you’ll be the ones exchanging vows this summer, we’ve venture to guess you’ve got your best friends or family backing you up at the alter. You know - those folks that planned everything from wedding showers to bachelor/ette parties for you? They deserve a little thanks. And that’s where we come in. We’ve got an entire landing page of goodies that make great groomsmen gifts. If you’re a bride, your best gals might like some protein to keep their knees from shaking on the big day - maybe some summer sausage for that wine and cheese board in the bridal suite?  

Maybe you’re the best man? Nothing saves a bachelor party like alcohol...jerky. Or get the groom a gift he can use to decorate the man cave in his new shared digs - an ammo can filled with snacks. 

Or you could be the perpetual wedding guest - the one with 15 different wedding invitations and save the dates on your fridge. Tired of hitting up the ‘Triple B Box Store’ and looking at registries? Skip the pots, pans, and linens and get the happy couple something they’ll remember - a subscription to our Exotic Jerky of the Month Club! And when your turn rolls around, we’ll be here suggesting your wedding guests to do the same!

If you’re counting down the calendar days ‘til summer, we’ve got about 8 weeks left - technically. But we all know summer begins long before the solstice. And with pool parties, lake outings and beach vacations on the horizon, being ready for swimsuit season has surely crossed your mind, if not taken priority. According to a survey by Planet Fitness, 33% of Americans would rather go to the dentist than don a swimsuit.

Regardless of whether you’re only mildly panicked or having a full blown freakout, we’ve got your back. There’s no need to do a drastic cleanse or a trendy diet. Just change the way you’re snacking!

Jerky is both high in protein and low in calories - which means it will keep you full for longer. It also won’t raise your insulin levels—a hormone that signals your body to store fat. Jerky makes a great snack between meals, especially if you’re trying to lose weight.

Does dreaming of the beach have you spending more time in the gym? A study published in The FASEB Journal showed that doubling your protein intake along with exercise may be the key to losing fat pounds without dropping muscle mass. And an added bonus? Our jerky sticks and snack packs are just the right size to toss in your gym bag.

Consider yourself a pescatarian? Not a problem - we’ve got several fish jerky options to tide you over ‘til the tide rolls in. Road tripping to the ocean? Why stop for fast food burgers when you’ve got protein in your purse, sans all the grease. And honestly, when you’re on the beach with your toes in the sand and jerky in your hand, you’ll be content whether or not you hit your goal weight. But as long as there’s still time and you’re still trying to shed those pounds, we’ve got your snacking regimen covered.

Have plans to be Irish for a day on March 17th this year? Whether you’re determined to wear (and drink) green, or avoiding the St. Patrick’s Day party, we’ve got some beer and jerky pairings we think you’ll love!

Go green or go home:

We’re not sure where the green beer tradition started, but we’re pretty sure it’s an American thing. If you’re making green beer to toast your heritage, you’re gonna’ want to start with a beer that’s light in color (but not low on taste). 2 drops of green food coloring should do the trick. And of course, you’ll need some Jerky to go with your festive beverage.

The yellow coloring of a light lager or Pilsner lends itself to turning green. And your Heineken, Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, or your Lagunitas Pils would go great with the lighter side of Jerky - like any of our fish jerky varieties!

More of a Pale Ale drinker? Try your Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond, or Ballast Point Grunion with something with a little kick, like Jeff’s Famous Habanero Heat Wave or our very own Jerky Dynasty Hot & Spicy. Let’s get this St. Patty’s party started!

Ye olde Irish Standards:

Green beer not your thing? Rather stick with something more traditional, perhaps a dry Irish stout? Whether it’s the old standby - Guinness, a Dry Irish Stout from Brooklyn Brewery, or a Bearded Seal from Pinthouse Pizza in Austin, TX  - the high carbohydrate level in stout helps to bring out the flavor in the jerky. Pair it with Buffalo Bob’s BBQ Wild Boar - Or Honey BBQ Old Fashioned Elk - The roasty notes of the stout provide a great flavor to accompany the sweetness of the BBQ taste.

No matter your beer style preference, you can’t really go wrong pairing any beer with ANY jerky. It’s just a tried and true combo. And regardless of your heritage or celebratory status, we hope you have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve got our own house brand of old fashioned jerky now, and we think it’s awesome. If you’re reading our blog, we know you love jerky, but do you know how it’s made? The process and ingredients can vary from one manufacturer to another, so we thought we’d fill you in a bit on how our house brand gets from the cow to your doorstep.

Good food always begins with good ingredients. In our old fashioned jerky, we only use the round of the meat sliced a very particular way. The quality starts here – we aren’t using processed or reconstructed meat to make our pride and joy. 

Each piece is sliced in a specific direction at a consistent thickness – calculated to optimize both tenderness and flavor. And the good ingredients continue as the meat marinades in the freshest spices we can find – no artificial seasonings (or smoke flavoring) in our high quality meat.

After it is marinated every piece is inspected by the staff to guarantee consistency and quality at the skewering stage.

This is when the raw meat is laid over stainless steel rods in preparation for smoking and drying. Slices are properly spaced to allow hot air and smoke to penetrate from all angles. Each rod is hung on a rolling rack which is then taken to its own individual closed smoking chamber.

Inside the closed smokehouse, a blend of a variety of wood chips soaked in water burn slowly smoking the meat, and the jerky cooks slowly at a very low heat. Over the course of 5-7 hours in the smokehouse, the circulated warm air dries out and cures the meat. And the smoke infuses the flavor.

Thickness is measured, strips are cut, and weight is measured before packaging. And once again, every piece of jerky is again meticulously inspected by staff. Before the jerky reaches the bag, each individual pouch is flushed with nitrogen, - because oxygen is fresh food’s worst enemy. Each bag is then filled with an oxygen absorbing package to further promote freshness, and receives the jerky. It then gets sealed, boxed, and shipped to us – so we can get it in your hands as quickly as possible!

Our Jerky is made in the USA, and you may have noticed its shelf life is shorter than some other brands you may have purchased – that’s because it isn’t overly preserved with harmful chemicals. Plus, it’s so good it won’t last long in your pantry anyway. Don’t believe us? Order some today!