Frequently Asked Questions
Curious About Something?
PRICING
PROCESSING, PACKAGING & STORAGE
QUANTITY
CUTS
SALES VENUES
PAYMENT & GUARANTEE
SHIPPING
ORDERING & DELIVERY
COOKING & TENDERNESS
HEALTH & SAFETY
THE BEEF
GRAZING & HANDLING
THE LAND & PEOPLE
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
SECURITY & PRIVACY
CONTACTING US
How is your beef priced?
We sell standardized quarters, sides and whole beef for a fixed price. This means you will know exactly what cuts you will receive and how much the package will cost. There are no price estimates, cut sheets, separate payments to processors and the like to deal with. Buying Brown Paper Beef is very simple and straightforward.
How do your prices compare to grocery store prices?
Our prices are very competitive with grocery store prices and are significantly less than what whole grocery stores charge. At the same time, the quality and wholesomeness of our beef is much higher.
Can I go in with a friend or family member?
Yes you can. We are happy to receive payments from all in your group. Just let us know how you would like to divide up the beef.
PROCESSING, PACKAGING & STORAGE
What is meant by “dry aging”?
Dry aging means that your beef is hung in a climate controlled storage locker for a period of time prior to being cut and packaged. During this period, natural enzymes present in the meat tenderize it and significantly enhance the flavor. Dry aging is an expensive and time consuming process. The industry standard time period for dry aging is 7 days. At Brown Paper Beef, we dry age our beef for 21 days.
How will my beef be packaged?
Our primary concern in packaging is quality and long shelf life. To that end, we flash freeze and vacuum package all of your beef.
How long will my beef last in the freezer?
We flash freeze and vacuum package all of our beef and as long as you maintain a freezer temperature below 2° F and do not allow your beef to unthaw until you are ready to use it, your beef should last 2-3 years in your freezer without any loss of quality.
How much freezer space will I need?
You will need approximately 12-16 cubic feet of freezer space for a whole beef, 6-8 CF for a side of beef and 3-4 CF for a quarter beef. Your typical refrigerator freezer is 6 CF while chest freezers range in size from 7 CF to over 25 CF.
How much beef is in a side / a quarter / a whole?
Our whole beef packages contain 301 lbs. of beef, a side of beef package contains 150.5 lbs while a quarter package contains 75.25 lbs of beef.
What is a “split side”?
A split side is also commonly referred to as a quarter beef. A split side is a half beef (a side) that has been divided into two equal parts by having an equal number of each type of cut placed in each split side (e.g. equal numbers of sirloin steaks, round roasts, hamburger, etc.).
How much hamburger will I get? How many steaks will I get? How many roasts will I get?
Please see this page.
Can I buy individual cuts from you?
Most of the beef we sell is in the form of whole beef, sides of beef or beef quarters. We have individual cuts for sale from time to time. Please ask.
Do you sell to out of state customers?
Yes, because our beef is USDA processed, we are able to sell to out of state customers. Please note that additional shipping charges may apply in some locations.
Can I get Brown Paper Beef in restaurants, grocery stores or farmers markets?
No, we sell grass fed and grass finished beef directly to consumers.
Do you sell other products?
No, we only raise beef.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes, we offer a complete, no questions asked replacement or refund guarantee.
Can I pay online?
Can I pay with a credit card?
No, in order to keep costs down we don't accept credit cards. Credit card companies charge between 2% and 4%, a cost we would have to pass on to our customers. Since our product is generally available by reservation and at only certain times of the year, we haven't found this to be a problem.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes, we take a deposit at the time you place your order. Your deposit is fully refundable up until 30 days before delivery.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes. We typically have more demand for our beef than we have product available. By placing a deposit with us, we will reserve your beef for you.
What do you charge for shipping / delivery?
Shipping is free to anywhere along the Front Range of Colorado. Shipping outside this area will be charged at reduced cost.
How will my beef be packed for shipping?
Your beef will be packed in specially designed insulated shipping containers and shipped to you frozen.
How do I place an order?
Simply contact us and tell us what you'd like to order. We'll ask you to send in a deposit and when it's ready we'll deliver your beef to your door. That's it.
When can I expect to receive my beef?
Our grass fed and finished beef is only available a couple of times per year. In order to ensure quality, we work with nature to time our beef to finish when the grass is the best. This assures a quality product for you.
I've heard grass fed beef is tough. Is this true?
If it's not finished correctly, grass fed beef can be tough. We use a combination of proper breed selection and animal size, finishing on our highest quality pastures and extended dry aging to ensure that our beef is tender and flavorful.
Do I need to cook grass finished beef differently?
Grass finished beef is leaner than grain fed beef. Because there is less fat in the beef, it's easier to overcook and does not generally need to be cooked as long or to as high an internal temperature as grain fed beef. As long as you don't overcook it, our beef will be as tender as grain fed beef. We think you'll find it more flavorful and healthier too.
Is grass fed and finished beef healthy?
Yes, grass fed and finished beef is lower in calories and total and saturated fat. It is also higher in omega 3 fatty acids, CLA, protein, vitamins A, B1, B2, E calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Do you feed hormones, antibiotics, steroids, pesticides, animal by-products or use growth implants?
No, our beef is all natural.
What if your animals get sick; do you treat them with antibiotics?
Yes, we look out for our animals' welfare. Because of the way they are raised, in open pastures and not confined, this is a rare occurrence. Most of the concern about antibiotics stems from the practice of putting constant, low level antibiotics in their feed. We don't do that. If even short time, medically necessary antibiotic treatment is a concern for you, just notify us and we will ensure that we provide you with beef that meets your needs.
What does “USDA processed” mean?
USDA processed means that your beef was processed in a USDA inspected facility with a full-time on-site USDA inspector, as opposed to being custom processed in a custom processing facility.
What does “all natural” mean?
All natural is a term regulated by the USDA to control food product labeling. It means that the food “has no artificial ingredients or added colors and is minimally processed”.
When we use the term, we take it to mean what you probably think it means. Our beef is not fed hormones, antibiotics, steroids, chemical pesticides or animal by-products nor do we use implants. Most of these things are technically allowed under the USDA term “all natural”. We do none of them.
What does “grass fed” mean? What does “grass finished” mean?
Other producers may use these terms in varying ways. At Brown Paper Beef, we use them to indicate that our beef has been fed grass, and only grass throughout their lifetimes. Additionally, our animals are never confined, receiving all of their meals in our pastures. Additionally, they are never fed antibiotics or steroids, treated with chemical pesticides or implanted with hormones.
Do you feed minerals?
Yes, minerals are necessary for the health of our cattle and are similar to vitamins for humans. Mineral blocks or “salt licks” are placed around our property so that our animals always have access to them.
What breeds of cattle do you raise?
We use English cattle breeds that do well on grass. Some examples of English breeds are Angus, Hereford, Galloway and Red Devon.
Do you individually identify and track your animals?
Yes, all our animals are individually identified and tracked as to their origin, where they are grazed, what they are fed, any medical problems they might experience and how they are processed.
How big are your animals?
To finish well on grass, we use animals that have frame sizes of small to small-medium. We want our animals to finish between 1,000 and 1,050 lbs. Feedlot steers, by contrast, finish between 1,200 and 1,300 lbs.
Is there anything wrong with corn-fed beef?
No, not really. However, it has been conclusively shown that finishing on grain as opposed to grass significantly reduces the levels of many valuable nutrients and produces beef that is higher in calories and fat. Otherwise, there is nothing inherently wrong with feeding cattle corn or other grain. It is the hormones, implants, antibiotics, animal by-products and close confinement often present in grain fed cattle operations that most concern people.
Do you practice “Management Intensive Grazing”? What is it?
Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) is a method of moving our animals through our pastures by creating temporary paddocks within the pastures. Our animals are moved to a new paddock on a regular basis.
This has many benefits including assuring our animals are always feeding on fresh, untrampled grass as well as allowing our pastures adequate recovery time after they are grazed. It's more work but the benefits to the land and the livestock are great.
Do you keep your animals in a corral or confine them in any other way?
No, our animals are never confined. They are processed through our corrals occasionally for tagging, inspection, weighing, etc. but they are not kept in the corral unless they are sick or injured, which is very rarely. All of their time is spent grazing in our pastures.
How do you herd your animals?
For the most part, we don't have to. We regularly move them to new paddocks with fresh grass. They are generally eager to move to the new paddock and simply move on their own as soon as we open up the fence. When we do need to herd them, we do it on foot, as calmly and slowly as possible.
How long have you been raising beef?
Our family has been farming and ranching in Colorado since the late 1800s when Grandpa Fabian and his five brothers settled in Elbert County near Matheson. We have owned and operated our Boulder, Colorado ranch where we raise our grass finished beef for forty years.
Where is your ranch? How big is it?
Our home ranch is 300 acres of pristine river valley located in the foothills about 15 miles north of Boulder, Colorado.
You are a Colorado Natural Area. What does this mean exactly?
We applied to join the Colorado Natural Areas Program in 1983 and were confirmed into the program by Colorado Governor Richard Lamm in December of that year. We were one of the first privately owned properties to be designated a Colorado Natural Area. Since that time, many other private properties have been admitted into CNAP which bodes well for the future of this excellent program.
For our part, we work closely with CNAP personnel to ensure that our ongoing operations enhance the land and protect the rare plants, habitat and unique geology found on our property for future generations.
You mention “stewardship” a lot. What do you mean by that?
Simply that we view ourselves as stewards, or caretakers, of our property. We are lucky to live in one of the very few pristine river valleys left on the Front Range of Colorado and it is our utmost desire to see it preserved for future generations.
We work directly with the Colorado Natural Areas Program, the Colorado Geological Survey and the USDA's National Resources Conservation Service to create and implement preservation and conservation strategies which enable us to continue our ranching operations while preserving the unique wildlife, habitat and geology found on our property.
Are predators a problem on your ranch?
Generally, no. We coexist with bear, mountain lion, bobcat and coyotes just fine. Occasionally we will have a sick or injured animal on the property that concerns us, in which case we contact the wildlife department to help us decide how to handle the situation.
What wildlife do you have on your property?
A large proportion of the animals that call Colorado home can be found on the property including golden and bald eagles, mountain bluebird, river nesting ducks, wild turkey, mule and white tail deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, fox, beaver, badger, raccoon and more.
How does your operation affect the local wildlife?
We use carefully thought out management practices so as to minimize the impact on wildlife that uses and / or travels through our property. This includes game friendly fencing, forage management and invasive species control.
How do you protect the rare species on your property?
We use fencing, herd behavior and weed control in conjunction with advice from the Colorado Natural Areas Program to protect the rare species of plants found on our property.
What do you do with my personal information?
We store your data securely and we never sell or rent your information to anyone. Only employees that have a direct need to access your data (e.g. order fulfillment, customer service contacts, etc.) are given access and then only on an as needed basis.
Is my information secure?
Yes. We use best practices for our online interactions and data storage. Physical access to machines that contain sensitive information is physically restricted in a secure facility.
Can I ask you to delete my information from your records?
Yes. We will delete all information pertaining to you at your request except for any information we are required to retain by law or for tax purposes.
How do I contact you?
You can contact us via email, web contact form, snail mail or by phone. Please go here to access our contact information.
