Beef Jerky in Brisbane is slowly gaining more popularity as the public is starting to be presented with more quality jerky options. No longer is jerky only found at servo’s or your local green grocers counter, instead markets, breweries and craft beer bars are now embracing jerky as a desirable and important part of their menu.
You might not know, but Brisbane is the home to several of Australia’s leading beef jerky retailers. Jim’s Jerky, Geronimo, Bigwig Jerky Company and De Beer Meat Company all hail from the river city and have a decent stronghold on the jerky market with their quality meat products.
Both companies are quite different, both in their jerky and their operations, but their passion for beef jerky is equal. Jim’s Jerky can be found at their popup aisle store in Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre, and Geronimo at Blackwood Street Mitchelton. Both companies offer online sales.
Beef Jerky At the Markets
With more and more weekend markets popping up around town, beef jerky has started to make more of an appearance, with Byron Biltong getting amongst the action. Whilst not from Brisbane, they are certainly making their move to promote their product to a wider market – they can be found at the Jan Powers Farmers markets in the Brisbane CBD. Eagle Farm markets regular The Jerky Nuts opened a physical shop at Enoggera on Brisbane’s inner north west selling a range of jerky, coffee and nuts. Whilst the Jerky Nuts do not produce their own line of Jerky, they do stock a wide range of products from companies such as De Beer Meat Company, African Gold, Jacks Black Label Jerky, Butcher Boy and Protea Foods. The Jerky Nuts can be found near the fresh food area at Eagle Farm markets every weekend, and offer free samples of most jerky products.
Geronimo continue to provide their product at the Mitchelton markets on the first sunday of each month. Luckily for Geronimo, the markets are held on the same street that their newely opened Cafe and retail store is – Blackwood Street, so drop in and say hi.
Beef Jerky at the Bars
Green Beacon Brewing Company
Beer and jerky go together like peas and carrots, and it’s not surprising that several bars around Brisbane have started offering jerky or biltong on their snack menu. The first bar (in fact a brewery) that we are aware of to start selling jerky is Green Beacon Brewing Company at Newstead. Nestled inbetween commercial and industrial warehouses, Green Beacon produce their own beers on site, in what has triggered a surge of new interest in locally brewed craft beers. The warehouse style layout provides for a pleasant and relaxing change to sit down and relax over a cold beer and enjoy a cup of either Mild or Hot Jerky (biltong). The style of the jerky varies now and then, and a recent purchase of the mild flavour was so hard it was almost impossible to chew, the hot flavour however was highly enjoyable.
Newstead Brewing Company
Hop a few streets over towards the newely redeveloped Gasworks project lies Newstead Brewing Company. Recenly opened in late 2013, Newstead Brewing Company is housed in a fully renovated old bus depot / art gallery. 8 different beers are brewed in-house including 6 ales, 1 cider and a porter and a full kitchen provides a range of options from snacks, pizzas, cheeses and main meals. They offer 2 flavours of jerky (chilli or mild) at a cost of $7. At this stage we are yet to sample the jerky, and unsure how much you actually get for your $7, but when we do we will be sure to let you know.
The Meatball Company
The newely renovated Fox Hotel at South Brisbane has branched out and included The Meatball Company as their flagship drawcard restaurant. The New York style restaurant serves up freshly made meatballs made with quality ingredients and matched to a range of cocktails and beverages. On the cocktail list one stands out in particular – The Bloody Warhol. A rather interesting vodka based “bloody mary” type cocktail served in a Cambells Soup tin and topped off with a garnish of beef jerky. We’ve included the full cocktail description below
The Bloody Warhol
Our ‘tongue in cheek’ twist on what we think is the perfect accompaniment to our food is off the beaten track, but well worth a try. Your choice of either caramelised onion-infused Ketel One Vodka or meatball fat washed Ketel One Vodka (equally very tasty), is mixed with our house made spice mix of smoked tomato sauce, tomato juice and fresh lime juice. We then deck it with an assortment of pickle staples, fresh celery and beef jerky served in an iconic Andy Warhol ‘Campbell’s Soup’ tin. Intrigued yet?
Links
Green Beacon Brewing Company
26 Helen St, Teneriffe, Q 4006 Tel: 073252 8393
http://www.greenbeacon.com.au/
Newstead Brewing Company
85 Doggett Street Newstead 4006. For bookings phone: 07 3172 2488
http://newsteadbrewing.com.au/
The Meatball Company
The Fox Hotel 71 – 73 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101 P: 07 3844 2883 F: 07 3844 2890
http://www.thefox.com.au/fox-meatball-co/
Bigwig Jerky Company
http://www.bigwigjerky.com
Jan Powers Farmers Markets
http://www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au/
