Human Trials
CityBeat staffers (and interns) taste test local dog treats
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
We wanted to test the theory that people tend to feed their pets better than themselves so we decided to eat some locally made high-end dog treats. These indie companies use real ingredients and even organics — not fillers or chemicals — to craft artisan snacks. They certainly aren’t the only treat-makers in town, but we thought these three sounded good enough to eat (and see if they’re worth the hype and price). Note: These are not actually made for human consumption, but that didn’t stop us from making our interns try some.
Brewhaus Dog Bones
Brewhaus bones are made using spent grain from local breweries and natural peanut butter — we tried bones baked with grain from Listermann Brewing Co. and Taft’s, and paired them with beers from the respective brewery. Brewhaus also doubles as a nonprofit that provides vocational training for young adults with disabilities. brewhausdogbones.com
Hailey Bollinger (Photographer): (The Listermann bone) has a nice peanut buttery taste; a nice crunch to it. I thought the Taft’s was more bland. The beer definitely enhanced both bones. The Taft’s tasted a little smokier with the beer pairings.
Mackenzie Manley (Copy Editor): For me, the Listermann was too hard, but I have human teeth. It tastes like Ezekiel bread. I think (the Taft’s) actually has a better crunch to it. It tastes slightly more refined.
McKenzie Eskridge (Intern): I think (the Listermann bone) is edible. It got thick on my tongue, but it went down nice with the complementing beer. The Taft’s definitely went down easier. I didn’t have to turn to the beer to get it down. It kind of tasted like a crouton.
Jude Noel (Intern): (For the Listermann bone), there’s definitely these overtones of stale sprouted wheat with, like, a peanut crunch that’s sort of baked into it. I actually liked the Listermann’s better — it had a texture that I enjoyed. The Taft’s tasted like how I imagine loose-leaf paper tastes.
Mike Breen (Music Editor): I tasted the Taft’s one right after and that’s delicious compared to the Listermann — a little more rich. I think the Listermann’s was a little more “rocky.”
Nick Swartsell (News Editor): The Listermann one didn’t taste like anything to me. It was dry. It tasted very much like I was getting fiber — I felt healthy in a way. The Taft’s one had a nice, almost roasted taste to it that I really liked. I think if I had several more beers it would be better.
Whisk & Wag
This local family-owned company makes dog bone baking mixes — think Bisquick but for pups — that come in different flavors like cheddar and herb (which we tried), honey and oats and apple and cinnamon. Just add water, oil and bake. whiskandwagtreats.com
HB: It’s got a nice herby-ness to it. It’s definitely more like a cookie than the bones. Initially it’s like a nice herby taste but then you start to get hints of whatever else is in here — cheddar? Oats? I wouldn’t eat more of them.
MM: It’s crumbly. I do kind of actually like the herby taste and you can definitely taste the cheddar hints shining through. It has a weird aftertaste.
ME: I actually like biting into the other treat more, but this is herby. It tastes like Italy — what I imagine Italy tastes like.
JN: I have the sensation of having just popped a breath mint. It might not smell good but my breath feels good right now. It wasn’t what I expected it to taste like because I was expecting a Red Lobster (Cheddar Bay) Biscuit but once I started taking more bites, it tasted good to me. Not, like, amazing, but good.
MB: I just wonder, do dogs appreciate the spices? Is that necessary? Are you cooking it for them because you think, “Oh my dog will love this?”
NS: It’s definitely like if you described a Red Lobster biscuit to an alien being using only words and then the alien being had to bake Cheddar Bay Biscuits. That’s kind of what it reminds me of.
Pet Wants
Pet Wants is a purveyor of their own line of natural pet food and other specialty dog supplies, treats and toppers, including a freeze-dried raw bar. Their jerky is made with inside-round beef and a secret house marinade, and their dried sweet potatoes come either plain or with turmeric and peanut butter. petwants.com
HB: I would maybe make (dried sweet potatoes) for myself and then share some with my dog. I think this is maybe more for a dog than to share with a human. Very Styrofoam-y. I’m sure dogs don’t mind texture. The flavor isn’t bad. It tastes like turmeric and peanut butter. (But) I love the jerky. I like it better than regular jerky because it’s so thin. The flavor’s great — kind of a little bit soy saucey. Will eat again.
MM: I actually like this (sweet potato). If you let it soften in your mouth a little bit, it tastes like a sweet potato chip, so I dig it.
ME: This is my first sweet potato ever. I like the crunch. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I got the plain one and I’ll probably finish it. I had really high hopes for (the jerky) because everybody has been taking two pieces and I like jerky in real life but it just tasted too much like what I imagine and smell dog food to be like.
JN: I actually kind of enjoyed (the sweet potato). The texture is a little gross — it feels like tree bark — but the taste actually tastes like a sweet potato chip that you might get at the store. This (jerky) is by far the best one and it tastes a lot better than some jerky I’ve had in the past. It’s got the soy sauce; it’s super savory; it’s crunchier.
MB: My first thought was that (the sweet potato) reminds me of taking psychedelic mushrooms — the spongy texture. (In the jerky), you can feel the sodium. But I was thinking you could use it like Bacon Bits, crumble them over a dog salad.
NS: (The sweet potatoes) are my absolute least favorite texture I’ve ever had in my mouth, but the taste is really good. It’s definitely sweet potato-y but has a little carroty flavor, too. I love the jerky. 10 out of 10; will eat again. It’s like Wild Joe’s jerky (from Camp Washington), which is really good thin-cut beef jerky. It’s got a soy sauce marinade and I think it’s delicious.
