Dry aged or wagyu/ akaushi?

SciAggie

I'm thinking of ordering some nice steaks for a summer get together with friends. I was looking online at Heartbrand Akaushi steaks https://heartbrandbeef.com/product/strip/ , SRF Wagyu steaks http://www.snakeriverfarms.com/american-kobe-beef/steaks/new-york-steak/american-kobe-new-york-strip-1.html , and dry aged steaks from Flannery beef http://www.flannerybeef.com/butcher/dry-aged-new-york-strip-mw.html . 

They seem to be competitively priced - which got me to thinking... Unless I misunderstand the Flannery beef is the only aged beef between the three. Does anyone have any experience/ advice as to which would be a more tender and flavorful cut - dry aged or Wagyu/ Akaushi? I'm interested in the New York strip steaks if that matters.
What says the collective intelligence of the forum?

Photo Egg

"which would be a more tender and flavorful cut - dry aged or Wagyu/ Akaushi?"

seems like the beefy flavor would go to the dry aged, tender would go to the other 2.

Legume

Get a couple of each and serve sliced up, have a taste off.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I love dry aged steaks. They are $20 lb at our local so we get them all the time. I split a SRF Gold NY strip loin with a buddy last year. I have never had anything even close to it. It was incredible. The fat melted on my countertop like butter. 

Cant go wrong here but the SRF Gold was something I have never had before or since. Best. Ever. 

SciAggie

@The_Cen-Tex_Smoker Thanks. I think you convinced me on the SRF steaks.
 Where do you get dry aged steaks? Next trip to see the daughter I might pick some up. 

Killit_and_Grillit

I read this post....3 hours of Internet reading later I am over here like "Can I buy a mini fridge on Amazon Prime to dedicate as a "dry aging" fridge. Aaaaand buy."

This forum is forcing me to live in another tax bracket. 

Also I am with @Legume. Taste off. Or we will never really know. 

SciAggie

Legume said:

Get a couple of each and serve sliced up, have a taste off.

That's a great idea. I'm not sure I want to pay shipping from two vendors though for one meal. I could get one this time and another later. 

SciAggie

Killit_and_Grillit said:

I read this post....3 hours of Internet reading later I am over here like "Can I buy a mini fridge on Amazon Prime to dedicate as a "dry aging" fridge. Aaaaand buy."

This forum is forcing me to live in another tax bracket. 

Also I am with @Legume. Taste off. Or we will never really know. 

I understand the wallet genocide. My wife and I were just discussing if it was worth the expense for a grinder and stuffer for sausage. It never ends...

bgebrent

Brother Sci, consider shelling out for the SRF tomahawk ribeye.  3# and reverse Sears unbelievably.  Feeds 4 and is a show stopper.  Just my 2 cents.

Photo Egg

Killit_and_Grillit said:

I read this post....3 hours of Internet reading later I am over here like "Can I buy a mini fridge on Amazon Prime to dedicate as a "dry aging" fridge. Aaaaand buy."

This forum is forcing me to live in another tax bracket. 

Also I am with @Legume. Taste off. Or we will never really know. 

Not sure how small you went. If you really did buy a mini fridge, be careful. Most of the minis are more made for beverages and do not get cold enough for aging. Most in the low 40's. Also isue with temp consistancy and no air circulation.

SciAggie

bgebrent said:

Brother Sci, consider shelling out for the SRF tomahawk ribeye.  3# and reverse Sears unbelievably.  Feeds 4 and is a show stopper.  Just my 2 cents.

I am open to that. I love the way those monsters look! Either way, I take it you give a nod toward the SRF sreaks?

Also - will that tomahawk fit on the large?

Killit_and_Grillit

@Photo Egg doing a pony keg fridge with pre drilled holes and a rack. That way I can run a fan inside it through the line holes. 

Called a few buddies to chip in...they are getting the wrath of the story of the Little Red Hen. They are about to start learning to make bread. 

@bgebrent may have a point there as well. I have been eyeing one of those tomahawk ribeyes. 

@SciAggie my meat grinder takes forever as it's a hand me down hand grinder. Another thing to add to the list. 

If we all lived on the same street this forum would be a lot easier to navigate. 

bgebrent

Yes to SRF.  I'd dry age my own if that was the goal. Go SRF for a special meal.  That tomahawk fits in the L.  I'll copy my post here with one that was rested then seared on MM ( could be seared on the L just as well).

bgebrent

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1206155/srf-tomahawk-and-cold-water-tails-celebration/p1

Photo Egg

SciAggie said:

bgebrent said:

Brother Sci, consider shelling out for the SRF tomahawk ribeye.  3# and reverse Sears unbelievably.  Feeds 4 and is a show stopper.  Just my 2 cents.

I am open to that. I love the way those monsters look! Either way, I take it you give a nod toward the SRF sreaks?

Also - will that tomahawk fit on the large?

You could always hack a little off the old end of the bone to make it fit. I still think you would have lots of Wow Factor. But I have seen past posts of just closing the dome with the bnes sticking out.

dmchicago

@SciAggie

Salt & Time in Austin sells Akaushi Beef from a ranch here in Texas. We but a lot of it and love it.

Photo Egg

Killit_and_Grillit said:

@Photo Egg doing a pony keg fridge with pre drilled holes and a rack. That way I can run a fan inside it through the line holes. 

Sounds perfect. Hope you keep us posted on how it works.

SciAggie

dmchicago said:

@SciAggie

Salt & Time in Austin sells Akaushi Beef from a ranch here in Texas. We but a lot of it and love it.

Great. I'll stop by next trip to Austin. 

SciAggie

@bgebrent I remember that post. Thanks for saving me the time finding it again. 

bgebrent

SciAggie said:

@bgebrent I remember that post. Thanks for saving me the time finding it again. 

Of course my friend.

HoustonEgger

@SciAggie - Call Heartland and ask where they distribute locally. In Houston they distribute to a grill store that sells for basically cost - so I'm sure there's a location in the Austin area that sells Heartland that would certainly be cheaper then online due to the packaging costs related to shipping the raw meat. 

SmokeyPitt

SciAggie said:

@The_Cen-Tex_Smoker Thanks. I think you convinced me on the SRF steaks.
 Where do you get dry aged steaks? Next trip to see the daughter I might pick some up. 

I recall a post that H-E-B sells dry aged beef. 

Photo Egg

HoustonEgger said:

@SciAggie - Call Heartland and ask where they distribute locally. In Houston they distribute to a grill store that sells for basically cost - so I'm sure there's a location in the Austin area that sells Heartland that would certainly be cheaper then online due to the packaging costs related to shipping the raw meat. 

Where is the grill store in Houston that sells Heartland. Would like to give them a try.
Thank you.

SciAggie

@HoustonEgger Thank. I'll do that. 

Legume

SmokeyPitt said:

SciAggie said:

@The_Cen-Tex_Smoker Thanks. I think you convinced me on the SRF steaks.
 Where do you get dry aged steaks? Next trip to see the daughter I might pick some up. 

I recall a post that H-E-B sells dry aged beef. 

HEB in Lakeway does, but most do not from what I've seen.  I think it would be limited to their higher end stores which blur the line between HEB and Central Market.  Two HEBs near me, one is old school and doesn't have a meat counter, the other is nicer and does have a meat counter, but doesn't regularly carry dry aged.  I believe Cen-Tex has said the one in Lakeway has a dedicated cabinet with aging beef where you can pick the cut and the age.

dmchicago

Legume said:

SmokeyPitt said:

SciAggie said:

@The_Cen-Tex_Smoker Thanks. I think you convinced me on the SRF steaks.
 Where do you get dry aged steaks? Next trip to see the daughter I might pick some up. 

I recall a post that H-E-B sells dry aged beef. 

HEB in Lakeway does, but most do not from what I've seen.  I think it would be limited to their higher end stores which blur the line between HEB and Central Market.  Two HEBs near me, one is old school and doesn't have a meat counter, the other is nicer and does have a meat counter, but doesn't regularly carry dry aged.  I believe Cen-Tex has said the one in Lakeway has a dedicated cabinet with aging beef where you can pick the cut and the age.

Yes...the Lakeway HEB has great dry aged meats. The pricing is often cheaper than Angus beef. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Legume said:

SmokeyPitt said:

SciAggie said:

@The_Cen-Tex_Smoker Thanks. I think you convinced me on the SRF steaks.
 Where do you get dry aged steaks? Next trip to see the daughter I might pick some up. 

I recall a post that H-E-B sells dry aged beef. 

HEB in Lakeway does, but most do not from what I've seen.  I think it would be limited to their higher end stores which blur the line between HEB and Central Market.  Two HEBs near me, one is old school and doesn't have a meat counter, the other is nicer and does have a meat counter, but doesn't regularly carry dry aged.  I believe Cen-Tex has said the one in Lakeway has a dedicated cabinet with aging beef where you can pick the cut and the age.

They do. Its fantastic. Dropped the price from $29.99 to $19.99 every day for strips and ribeyes. 

Legume

Ooooh, I need to take a ride then.

Austin Egghead

You can purchase the Heartbrand beef at Bolner's Meat Market in SAT.  We like the beef.  Nicely marbled and fork tender.  I have not had SRF beef, so I can't compare.  

Austin Egghead

dmchicago said:

@SciAggie

Salt & Time in Austin sells Akaushi Beef from a ranch here in Texas. We but a lot of it and love it.

Thanks for the info about Salt and Time.  We usually go to Bolner's when visit family in SAT...The wallet takes a hit!! Getting it locally here in Austin means I don't have to buy in bulk.