Armbrust vs. Wenzel's

I made the trip to the nearest gas station in search of a meaty snack the other night. I passed by the rack of the usual Jack Link's and Slim Jim offerings because I know this place usually has something special in their deli cooler. They did not disappoint, as there sat two brands of beef sticks: Armbrust and Wenzel's. I grabbed a package of each. Let's see how they match up.


Armbrust Meats
Medford, Wisconsin
1 oz. Beef Stick

Noteworthy ingredients: Mustard Seed, Garlic Powder

Taste: My initial impression was a pleasant garlic. Then I noted a tanginess that suggested vinegar, but maybe it was the mustard seed. Overall it was a good balance of meat and spice flavor.

Texture: This stick has a neutral texture. Not to wet and not too dry. Not too chunky and not too mushy. Creating such a balance must be a fine art and a great achievement for this sausagemaker.

Overall: This is a fine beef stick. After eating this stick first, I wasn't expecting the Wenzel's to surpass it.


Wenzel's Farm Sausage
Marshfield, Wisconsin
1 oz. Beef Stick

Noteworthy ingredients: Corn Syrup Solids, MSG, "Sprayed with potassium sorbate to improve quality."

Taste: My initial impression was smoky. But this has a unique smoky flavor, reminiscent of seared steak. Fantastic. If this stick had any other flavors, I missed them because I was enjoying the smoky seared flavor too much.

Texture: Multi-staged texture. The initial bite and tear suggests a dry stick. After a few chews the greasiness emerges, similar to but not as pronounced as a Slim Jim. I loved it.

Overall: Smoky seared meat that you can carry around in your pocket? It's something special.


The Verdict:
Both are superior beef sticks but I'm going to go with the Wenzel's.

Have you tried either of these? Let us know what you think of them in the comments.

So this was my first review here. I'm going to try various formats, but I like these side by side comparisons because it is a good excuse for me to buy more meat snacks. Also, don't think for a second that I eschew the common brands such Jack Link's, Slim Jim, etc. I grew up on those and still love and crave them. We'll have the Slim Jim vs. Matador showdown soon enough.