Whoops...

  Okay, not going to sugarcoat this, I screwed up. I should of had MULTIPLE reviews up by now (special apology to Chemical Evolution, if it helps I haven't even opened the jerky yet because I'm still planning to review it, [I do "live" reviews]), I WILL have a review up soon, thanks for reading. Also, the blog is already approaching 2,000 pageviews, so thanks. Here's a funny picture for your trouble:

I'm Baaaack! (Plus Surprise Review)

  Okay, I know what your thinking and, yes, I AM awesome. But to answer the more pressing and obvious question, no, it's not that I can't even manage one review a month (that'd be pretty sad), I just had a lot of crap going on last month, I found out I have to have two surgeries (first one is in a few days actually), nothing big but they're still surgeries nonetheless. In addition to this I'm still looking for a REAL job (I earn a grand total of about 10¢ a month from the blog if I'm lucky), and I've been trying to get in shape (I've got two years before I'm old enough to do American Ninja Warrior), so yeah, I've been busy.

  A few more straight-up blog related updates: First off, I found a new place to get some different jerky types, so the supply issue has been abated for now; Secondly, things will have settled down enough in a few months that I might even go back to posting reviews every other week (we'll have to wait and see though); Thirdly, I've got a bunch of new reviews I can write, such as BabyRuths and Jack Link's Maple Ham Nuggets; and Lastly, I recently received an order from ChemicalEvolution.com  (I ordered two things, Penguin Caffeinated Mints [Review Below] and Energy Catalyst energy shots [even though I liked it, it falls outside my jurisdiction so I will not be reviewing it, head over to ADDICTED 2 ENERGY! for a review of that fine product], and the wonderful people that they are put in a small (1.25 OZ. "Apocalypse Size") sample baggie of Harcos Laboratories "Zombie Jerky" for the blog (which, if anyone from ChemEvo is reading, thanks for the gift) that will be next months review. Anyway, onto the review:

  As stated before, I recently ordered some energy products from ChemicalEvolution.com, one of which was Penguin Caffeinated Chocolate Mints, which are, obviously, energy boosting mints (or so they claim). "How are they though?", I hear you ask. Read on...

  Taste: Altoids has/had a line of mints that were chocolate covered, which basically made it candy with a breath mint built in, and while it was good the flavors didn't blend because it was in two layers, this mint, on the other hand, actually has chocolate in it which blends the flavors of the mint, chocolate & caffeine. "Well, Mr. Mint, that's great, but it still doesn't tell me how it tastes necessarily." Good point, let's put it like this: This is how those Altoids should of tasted, not only are the flavors blended, but they're blended perfectly, slightly sweet with the chocolate and caffeine playing with each other to bring out a really nice chocolate taste that itself is not too sweet. Now I must point out that they won't freshen your breath, the mint aspect is more about the flavor than anything but they taste great and have the added benefit of giving roughly 35 grams of caffeine in three mints. 8 out of 10.


  Edibility: No real issue, you can suck these for a slow pick-up, or chew them for a quick boost, won't mess with your teeth at all. 10 out of 10.

  Packaging: You wouldn't know this normally but penguins are one of my favorite animals, so I am slightly biased toward it, however, despite the bias the tin is well done, everything is clearly written, has cool graphic work, the tin itself is nice and sturdy and the paper inside the tin has a pretty cool surprise too. +1 Point.

  Conclusion: Tastes great, eats nicely, cool tin and has a good energy boost to boot. 19 out of 21 points.

1000 Pageviews!

  As I sit here and write this, the pageview counter sitting at 970, and started thinking about the last 7 months since I though of and started this review blog, things like the inspiration; the raw idea I formed into a name, Manly Meat Snacks; and eventually finding Blogger and being able to do this free of charge (in fact, thanks to Google's AdSense, not only is this true but I can actually make some money from this), makes me feel more than a little happy that a 18 year-old can start something like this and make it work thanks to where we are technologically, if I had been born 10 years earlier I might not of been able to enact something like this when I inevitably had the idea, but I was born into the increasingly fast evolving era of technology that we are all living in today. As much as we like to joke that as soon as something hits the market like an iPhone or a new game console (remember when the 360 was new?) a new one is right around the corner to relieve us of our hard-earned money, it's really a beautiful thing when you think about it, everyone constantly innovating, competition creating some of the best products we've seen in our entire lives... Well, this is a story for another day.

  What I sat down to say today was that I know it's a bit early to start reminiscing about when I started this blog, it has only been 7 months, far less than even a year, but I wanted to write this note of thanks for reading because without you, the reader, reaching 1000 pageviews would not be possible, nor would reaching the next thousand. Thanks.

Oberto BBQ Pork Jerky Review

  Okay, it's been forever since I posted a review (in fact, it's been two months) and figured it was time for a new review. But, first things first, obviously trying to post a review a week is unrealistic at this point in my life, I'm going to switch to a monthly format for the time being, once I get to a point where I can write a post every other week I'll switch to that and maybe eventually I'll go back to every week, until then I'll be updating every month. Anyway on to May's review:

  This month I'm reviewing the Oberto BBQ Pork Jerky.
I've recently run into a problem, the stores I go to for food don't have much in the way of jerky and I'm starting to run out of stuff to review (hence the lack of jerky reviews recently) so whenever I'm somewhere different I always look for new jerky and oh boy did I find a gem this time. I was in a Wal-Mart a while ago (which is odd for me, our Wal-marts at home suck) and I stumbled upon this in the checkout lane. Now naturally I only grabbed one bag, I figured this was a novelty jerky that only a few people would enjoy. Man was I wrong, but why? Read on my friend:

  Taste: I'm going to be honest here, when I first opened the bag I almost puked, the jerky has a almost artificial sweet smell to it, one look at Oberto's website explains why though: pineapple juice. It's the smell of the regular sugar and pineapple juice mixing together, making a almost noxious scent. Once you get past that, though, the jerky is amazing, the sweetness of the sugar and pineapple, the bitter tang of the vinegar and the natural saltiness of the the pork blend perfectly without overpowering the actual pork taste. I think I have to knock a point off for the smell but other than that I find no fault with this meat-sterpeice. 9 out of 10.

  Edibility: Okay, this is an area that needs improvement, it beaks apart easily enough, then as you chew it keeps breaking until it's a bunch of little tiny pieces stabbing your gums. It's actually not that bad but your gums do get sore after eating a bag of this. Otherwise it's pretty standard fare. 6 out of 10.

  Packaging: The usual, everything's printed out nicely and the bag reseals, plus there's a freshness packet. +/- 0 Points.

  Summary: Fantastically tasting, just need to get over the smell the first time, and you're going to be picking this out of your teeth for the rest of the day. 15 out of 21 Points

MUNCHIES - Sweet & Spicy Peanuts (2012) Review

  NOTE: Frito has apparently discontinued these, however, this review still stands in the case you find some somewhere or they re-continue this snack unchanged from this recipe. If they release a new product with the same name I will review that separately.

  Since I'm reviewing two snacks in the Frito's Munchies line of snackfoods in the same amount of days, so I thought I'd just quote my opening thoughts from yesterday:

  "I noticed these a few weeks ago and they got my attention, but I didn't want to try it right

away because I didn't want to be disappointed but I decided to bite the peanut (get it?) and try it anyway..."

   So what are these like anyway?

  Taste: Just like I said yesterday, "When you first put a few in your mouth they actually taste a little fizzy, like weak pop-rocks, but after a few you realize that it's just a trick your brain is playing on you". The biggest taste is the peanut and the second biggest is the bland multipurpose starchy mixture that they coat the peanuts with. I kinda liked the flavoring they add, but it's like the BBQ one, it's biggest difference is that it's just a little less sweet and mostly spicy instead. Besides that the peanuts are actually really good (and the biggest flavor) but again, I have to deduct 2 points for the bland coating they use. 5 out of 10.

  Edibility: Peanuts don't get jammed anywhere and the coating is super brittle. So edibility isn't an issue. 10 out of 10.

  Packaging: Same issue as yesterday, colors are good, text is clear and it's just nicely done except for (again) the name. As I said yesterday: "Unless you've been living under a rock your whole life, you know what the word munchies usually implies, stoners (usually people that smoke marijuana) getting hungary after getting high (though it actually generally refers to being hungry after taking any drug, illegal or not), and I think that it was a really poor marketing decision to insinuate something like that." -1 Point.

  Summary: Pretty much the same as yesterday, taste needs a little work, good edibility, bad choice of name. 14 out of 21 overall.