Martha’s Pick:

Jukes Ale Works
20560 Elkhorn Dr.
Fare: Brewpub
Cost: $67 for three drinks, one appetizer and two meals
Reservations: It’s a seat yourself type of place.

Greetings, Eaters and Readers!

If you missed us in February – just know: we missed you, too! Hot off of our very productive year in 2023, we have 2024 scheduled and planned out to keep serving up fresh posts and restaurant reviews. But as it goes – life happens – and February snuck away from us. But we’re happy to be back with March’s discovery: Jukes Ale Works. And if you keep an eye out, we might serve up a small bonus post to make up for our February slip up.

But first – Jukes Ale Works. If their Facebook page creation date is anything to point to, this Elkhorn-based, family-owned passion project has been around since at least 2014. Nestled in Olde Towne Elkhorn’s busy downtown (around the corner from Boyd & Charlie’s BBQ), Jukes brings to life the family’s long-held dream of bringing the “vibrant culture and diverse atmosphere that surrounds the beer-brewing community” to their hometown. And while the beer menu might bring people in the door, it’s the delicious, curated-with-purpose food menu that delights patrons as much as the cold brews.

While we had both known about Jukes for years, it took a recent sunny Saturday spent out west (filling up our candy baskets at Greenwood’s Baker’s Candy Store) that motivated me to use my turn to finally hit up the buzzed about brewery. Was it worth the drive for us? Is it worth the drive for you? Let’s discuss!

Merlin’s Cream Ale ($4.50) | Ninja Juice IPA ($3)

Somehow, I am surrounded by friends who love and appreciate a good, rich, dark or bold beer. And I myself … don’t? I’ll try a taste of almost anything – but I just don’t gravitate towards beers or lagers or porters. I was absolutely (mostly) at Jukes for the infamous salted caramel wings (more on those soon!) – but when in Rome, right?

So after watching the large digital menu scroll through a couple times, highlighting all of their unique home brews, I ordered the tiniest sip of the beers that caught my eye: the ones inspired – or at least named after – the Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles. I’d give you notes on the taste and profile – if I knew anything about a beer’s taste and profile. But I don’t. So I won’t. It was cold. It was tolerable (to a non IPA drinker). I … am sorry I can’t even pretend to give you more than that!

Jaclyn, however, does love a good beer. And the Merlin’s Cream Ale sounded refreshing on a Saturday afternoon. Like most cream ales, it was smooth with ever-so-slightly sweet and malty undertones. She would buy a six-pack of Merlin’s if she ever saw it in store.

Salted Caramel Wings ($16.50) — Naked wings drizzled in bourbon caramel sauce and sea salt

We’d been seeing ringing endorsements for the salted caramel wings time and time again on Omaha Food Lovers. Ordering them was a must.

We know what you’re thinking: dessert wings? I’m not sure about that. But we insist – GET THEM. No matter how hesitant you might be, just do it.

Words almost can’t describe how good these wings were. The caramel was sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. These don’t taste like a dessert wing – we think because of the big salt flakes that simultaneously melt on your tongue and crunch under your bite.

We both forced ourselves to stop eating them so we’d have room for what’s to come – immediately agreeing we’d both get an order for our main meals in the future.

Geaux Geaux Cajun Mac ($19.50) — Spicy Cajun Geaux Geaux cream sauce, cavatappi pasta, toasted bread crumbs and added blacked chicken

Before we headed west and started our day at Baker’s Candies, we dropped some birthday gifts off at our friend Becca’s. We told her about our plans for Jukes and she mentioned the cajun mac and cheese. But she also warned that it was hotter than most restaurants’ cajun mac offerings. And knowing Becca’s tolerance for heat – that worried me. If she had never said anything, cajun mac with chicken always catches my eye when I see it on a menu. Hesitating up to the second I had to place my order – I threw caution aside and ordered it. I wanted to decide for myself how zesty it was!

Customers get their choice of add-ins (grilled or blackened chicken, shrimp or pulled pork) and I went with the blackened chicken. First thing I noticed – this dish came out incredibly hot, fresh and well put together. I struggled to be patient for those first few bites – and I lost that battle – daring to scald my mouth to make sure I enjoyed the freshest bites.

The heat of the cajun flavor (their Geaux Geaux sauce) is noticeable but tolerable – at least for my palate anyways. I could quickly see (taste?) that Jukes cajun heat would build quicker than most I’ve tried throughout the city. But I liked it – and were I not full from a couple of small beers and those scrumptious wings – I would have powered through almost all of this dish. It’s also a very generous portion and I happily boxed up my leftovers to enjoy another day.

Peanut Butter Bacon Burger ($17.50) — Cheeseburger topped with provolone cheese, peanut butter, bacon and added fried egg

I had strongly considered getting the peanut butter bacon burger myself, but Jaclyn decided to get it, so I was glad to know I could still try a bite of hers.

Adding a fried egg to her order, the burger came out with yolk running down the sides – perfect. The patty itself was pretty substantial – at least a quarter pound, if not more. There was a lot of peanut butter on this burger. It took over all the other flavors, so she really couldn’t taste the egg. But the bacon was crispy and the burger overall was great. She’d suggest a little less peanut butter and would even love to see a jelly addition.

Jac chose tots for her side, which looked and tasted purely homemade. They were large and coin-shaped, topped with a light, savory seasoning. They were the best tots she’s tried to date and reheated quite well in the air fryer.

Final Bites

In all, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Jukes. We even whisper debated about a Certified Good Bite – it was close. Nearly every bite was exactly what we hoped it would be – and some bites even over delivered. (We’re looking at you, salted caramel wings!) Our main complaint? How far we are from Jukes. But those wings, and the Juke family’s genuine passion that makes the whole place buzz, have sold us on making an honest effort to get back to Jukes whenever we can.

In the meantime, if you catch us trying to craft a delicious, crispy chicken wing in our air fryer and then smothered in a jar of caramel sauce? Mind yer business or grab the salt and join us.

Cheers!
The Good Bite Gals

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