Milwaukee may not be known for its hot weather, but that doesn't mean that the Brew City can't bring the heat – namely from the kitchen. That's why Senior Developer Nick "Power Palate" Barth and Pop Culture Editor Matt "Powder Puff Palate" Mueller are on a journey, burning their buds and torching their tongues across town to find the city's spiciest dishes. Grab your fork and a fire extinguisher – this is Burning Through Brew City.

The next stop on their capsaicin-rich quest?

Carolina Reaper beef jerky

All Things Jerky
South Grandstand Avenue at the Wisconsin State Fair
allthingsjerky.com     

After challenging the infamous ghost pepper last time, it only seemed right to seek out the true hottest monstrosity on the market: the Carolina Reaper, the official spiciest pepper in the world coming in with 2.2 million scovilles – double the ghost pepper – and an evil-looking stinger tail just in case you weren't scared enough. 

Time happened to be on our side (or not, if our guts had their say about it) as our quest for the Carolina Reaper coincided with the Wisconsin State Fair. While dairy products and fatty delicacies deservedly soak up most of the spotlight (and your caloric intake for a month) you can find plenty of other oddball treats there – in particular at the All Things Jerky shop, located just east of the Exposition Center on South Grandstand Avenue.

There (or at one of its three non-Fair locations in Appleton, Minocqua or Eagle River) you can find a whole animal kingdom of meaty munchies, from alligator to kangaroo to antelope and ostrich. 

But we had our eyes on finding a plain beef jerky that was anything but plain: the Carolina Reaper beef jerky, crafted (or perhaps summoned with some kind of satanic chant) up in Tigerton by Mike's Country Meats. 

Enough stalling; let's see if this Reaper's come to collect our taste buds' souls.

Heat

Nick: There really isn't any heat to this. Ground Carolina Reaper is waaaaaay down the ingredient list – and it shows. I was really looking forward to a good spicy jerky, but this is barely even "Milwaukee hot"; it's mild at most.

Matt: I was promised lava vomit and napalm tears from the Carolina Reaper. Instead, I got something like a mildly spicy barbecue-flavored jerky. There's a little bit of a burn, but really, it's modest at best, and we were able to chow down easily on several pieces in a row as though it was just regular jerky. I had even bought some lemonade for any emergency mouth extinguishing; it was completely unnecessary. 

Longevity

Nick: See above. Heat can't stick around if it doesn't show up to the party.

Matt: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Flavor

Nick: This is a super tasty beef jerky. I would eat this all the time. It's everything you want beef jerky to be: chewy, salty, and satisfying.

Matt: Here's the good news: As actual food, this jerky is delicious and insanely addictive. The texture is perfect, with a tough but tender chew, and the taste is that crave-worthy saltiness with just a hint of sweet. It may not bring the heat, but it will bring out your inner crazed carnivore, ripping and tearing at pieces of meat like a wild animal. 

Overall

Nick: This is a really good jerky, though disappointingly not spicy. I'll definitely look out for the brand in the future, skipping the premium cost of the novelty-hot bag in favor of the everyday varieties.

Matt: If you're craving just some really scrumptious beef jerky with a bit of heat, by all means check this out. However, if you're looking for a true spicy challenge to give you a satisfying, one-of-a-kind singe – especially considering the star pepper's reputation – look elsewhere. 

In short, don't fear the Reaper. 

However, because Nick and I wanted to be thorough – or maybe just because we're culinary sadists with a death wish – we also received a single kernel sample of the stand's Crazy Corn Reaper, supposedly the "world's hottest popcorn." See the results for yourself:

Maybe an actual handful would change our verdict. Alas, next time, State Fair ... 

Burning Through Brew City heat index

1. Red Rock Saloon's TCB ghost pepper wings
2. All Things Jerky's Carolina Reaper beef jerky