Imperial Brand Wagyu

Money_Hillbilly

Anyone have experience with Imperial Wagyu?  We have an opportunity to buy direct from a local supplier.  Considerably cheaper and much better than shipping but I have no experience with them or ever heard of the brand. Bought SNR a couple times and it was good but I am not sure it was 3X better than the $3 lb briskets from Costco. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

brand does not matter as much as breed and how it's raised and what they feed it. Considering Costco is on the very bottom rung of that ladder, I would think that any local wagyu would be miles better.

If it's 100% wagyu, I would be careful on the briskets. I have tried a few and they were so fatty that they were almost inedible. The "American Wagyu" (like SRF) that is bred with Black Angus or some other beefy breed usually fare much better for BBQ.

I think @lousubcap would tell you that the Heartbrand Wagyu from here in TX is an excellent brisket and I think they are 100% so there are exceptions.

Money_Hillbilly

Imperial is in Omaha and available from a local restaurant supplier.  No idea where they are raised.  They have ribeyes and back ribs for about the same price as prime, briskets are double.  Problem is you have to buy by the case, $300 a case for experimenting is a little rich for me. I will probably split a case with a buddy. Got to give it a try.  Hoping to find someone with some experience with them.

lousubcap

As mentioned by @The Cen-Tex Smoker, I fully endorse the Akaushi beef brisket from Heartbrand Beef in Texas.  It is right there with SRF Black in terms of texture and taste.
However, I am with you that a $300 test shot is too much but if you can split as you suggest then you are in SRF single black brisket territory.  
Keep us updated as this plays out. 

Photo Egg

Money_Hillbilly said:

Imperial is in Omaha and available from a local restaurant supplier.  No idea where they are raised.  They have ribeyes and back ribs for about the same price as prime, briskets are double.  Problem is you have to buy by the case, $300 a case for experimenting is a little rich for me. I will probably split a case with a buddy. Got to give it a try.  Hoping to find someone with some experience with them.

If you make a brisket and find it’s just not for you..,grind the others and make the best burgers in the world!
When I find a great deal on brisket local, I try and buy the largest I can. I cut 4-6 inches from the flat end and grind for burgers. Buy the $300 case. It won’t go to waste.

Money_Hillbilly

@Photo Egg They make a custom gourmet burger blend of short rib, brisket and chuck that is absolutely killer and they are half the price of the wagyu. They have 2 grades of Wagyu that appear to be the same as SRF black or gold grade. I will find out soon. The order is in.  

Money_Hillbilly

Found somebody to split a case of Wagyu briskets so I ordered a ribeye section and a case of plate ribs.  This should be interesting. Here is a sample of the last prime ribeye section I got from them.  Really high expectations for the Wagyu

Ozzie_Isaac

Imperial Waygu is available at Costco, at least in ground beef form.

lousubcap

Money_Hillbilly said:

Found somebody to split a case of Wagyu briskets so I ordered a ribeye section and a case of plate ribs.  This should be interesting. Here is a sample of the last prime ribeye section I got from them.  Really high expectations for the Wagyu

@Money_Hillbilly -  your forum name nails the target     Those have great marbling.  No pressure to bring 'em home!     Great score all the way around.  

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Imperial Waygu is available at Costco, at least in ground beef form.

It’s nice to see they are only feeding them vegetarians.  That’s Good for the planet. 

Ozzie_Isaac

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

Imperial Waygu is available at Costco, at least in ground beef form.

It’s nice to see they are only feeding them vegetarians.  That’s Good for the planet. 

They do make the best tasting beef! 😂

Money_Hillbilly

Wagyu briskets and a ribeye section arrived Friday.  Briskets were about 33% less than SRF. Ribeye and briskets were both about double the price I normally pay for prime.  It better be really really good or that won’t happen again.  

Money_Hillbilly

Just cut the Wagyu ribeye section into steaks. The fat melted on my hand like butter. This.better be good. 

Photo Egg

Your Prime photos above, to me, look better than the Wagyu?

Money_Hillbilly

@Photo Egg The prime ones certainly do look better. Haven’t cooked one yet but the knife cut through it like warm butter.  The fat was soft and melted on my hand. Jury is out hope I am not disappointed. Will report back.  

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Money_Hillbilly said:

@Photo Egg The prime ones certainly do look better. Haven’t cooked one yet but the knife cut through it like warm butter.  The fat was soft and melted on my hand. Jury is out hope I am not disappointed. Will report back.  

I have recently stumbled across Heartbrand Akaushi (wagyu) from down here in TX. I am used to the crazy marbling with wagyu but this didn't have as much as what's in your pics. I was pretty disappointed in the marbling and didn't expect much when I saw that (it was a group buy from a new source and I didn't see it before it was delivered). What I did notice is how soft the meat was. We bought whole strip loins and a bunch of skirt and both were the same. The meat was kind of pale pink and didn't have much marbling but it was like butter to work with. Like you and like other really good wagyu I have had, the fat melted on the countertop at room temp. Always a good sign. It was one of the best steaks I have ever had. I probably would have passed if I saw it before I bought it, but in this case, judging a book by it's cover would have been the wrong choice.

I hope you have the same results as me. Something tells me you are in for a treat but can't wait to hear the results.

Ozzie_Isaac

Money_Hillbilly said:

@Photo Egg The prime ones certainly do look better. Haven’t cooked one yet but the knife cut through it like warm butter.  The fat was soft and melted on my hand. Jury is out hope I am not disappointed. Will report back.  

Wagyu fat is different, it melts at a low temp and has a wonderful flavor, even the meat itself is more tender.  As @The Cen-Tex Smoker said, marbling is not the only thing bringing you to flavor town.

Wagyu source is important.  Japanese Wagyu is 100% Wagyu.  American Wagyu can be up to 50% cross bred with stuff like Black Angus or other breeds.  That leads to some of the marbling differences.  Wagyu is also graded for marbeling, not all Wagyu is the same.  The Japanese scale A2-A5.  A5 is insane, A3 is average.  A2 is below average and A1 is not even graded.  There are other scores, but I am not familiar with them.

Money_Hillbilly

@Ozzie_Isaac @The Cen-Tex Smoker.  The Wagyu verdict is in.  It is good, really really good. The most tender ribeye I have ever had but at double the price of prime I will only get it for special occasions.  The tenderness was equivalent to a prime filet, the fat has a really rich taste.  Wonderful experiment.  I have 2 briskets to test next.

lousubcap

Great cook and summary right there.  Nailed the finish and crust.  Congrats-you did them proud.  

Photo Egg

Money_Hillbilly said:

@Ozzie_Isaac @The Cen-Tex Smoker.  The Wagyu verdict is in.  It is good, really really good. The most tender ribeye I have ever had but at double the price of prime I will only get it for special occasions.  The tenderness was equivalent to a prime filet, the fat has a really rich taste.  Wonderful experiment.  I have 2 briskets to test next.

 Beautiful!

Ozzie_Isaac

Money_Hillbilly said:

@Ozzie_Isaac @The Cen-Tex Smoker.  The Wagyu verdict is in.  It is good, really really good. The most tender ribeye I have ever had but at double the price of prime I will only get it for special occasions.  The tenderness was equivalent to a prime filet, the fat has a really rich taste.  Wonderful experiment.  I have 2 briskets to test next.

Looks awesome!!  They are definitely a treat.

danlbrown

looks fantastic. Not sure I could open the wallet for double the price of prime, but if it tastes as good as it looks, wow!