EPIC Provisions
Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A meat-first bar with a short, whole‑food ingredient list—smoky bison and bacon brightened by cranberries, no protein isolates. It’s a savory‑forward profile in a category that’s mostly sweet.
When to choose EPIC Provisions Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar
Best for savory snackers, hikers, and paleo/gluten‑free eaters who want a light, real‑food bite between meals; not for anyone chasing 20g of protein in one bar.
What's in the EPIC Provisions bar?
EPIC’s Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar is a savory-first snack built from whole foods: bison for the base, a touch of uncured bacon for smoke, and tart dried cranberries to brighten it.
The protein here comes straight from meat—not powders—so you get complete, highly bioavailable protein, but at a modest 7g per bar.
Carbs stay low (8g) and mainly come from the cranberry pieces, which are sweetened with apple juice concentrate, while the 8g of fat is all from the bison and bacon—no seed oils.
At just 130 calories, it’s a light, portable bite, and yes, that “uncured” bacon is still cured, using cultured celery powder for nitrite.
- Protein
- 7 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 8 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 130
Protein
715LOWProtein comes entirely from bison and a little pork bacon—whole‑meat, complete protein rather than whey or soy isolates. At 7g, it’s lighter than most protein bars, more in line with a meat snack than a meal replacement. The upside: real‑food protein with the minerals and savory satisfaction that come with it.
Fat
89MIDThe 8g of fat is naturally occurring animal fat from bison and bacon—no added seed oils. Expect a mix of saturated and monounsaturated fats typical of red meat, providing some staying power without feeling heavy. If you’re watching saturated fat, note that this bar’s fats are meat‑based rather than from nuts or olive oil.
Carbs
820LOWWith just 8g of carbs, this bar stays lean on starches. Those carbs come mostly from the dried cranberries, which are tempered with apple juice concentrate—so think fruit sugars rather than grains or fiber. The energy is quick and modest, more of a tart pop than a slow burn.
Sugar
64MIDYou get 6g of sugar, primarily from the dried cranberries. They’re sweetened with apple juice concentrate—a fruit‑based syrup that still counts as added sugar—so the sweetness is simple and quick rather than fiber‑buffered. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here.
Calories
130210LOWAt 130 calories, this is a light snack. Most of the energy comes from the meat’s fat, with smaller contributions from complete protein and cranberry sugars. It’s great as a between‑meal bite or trail companion; you’ll likely want two if you’re aiming to replace a meal.
Vitamins & Minerals
No vitamin or mineral standouts over 10% DV, but you do pick up small amounts of calcium (6% DV), iron (4% DV), and potassium (4% DV). The iron and potassium largely reflect the bison, with a little help from the fruit. Think protein-and-energy snack, not a micronutrient powerhouse.
Additives
The short list of additives is purposeful: cultured celery powder supplies nitrite to safely cure the bacon, and encapsulated lactic acid helps control acidity. Both are common in “uncured” meats and keep microbes in check. It’s still a processed, cured meat product—just with a simpler toolkit.
Ingredient List
American bison meat
Celery plant extract, fermented
Apples
Cranberries
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Epic bars. Done and done. They’re the bees knees.”
“Epic bars are essentially cured meat, and very tasty. They even have a keto selection.”
“those chicken sriracha bars are sooooo tasty. they’re like a “clean” slim jim 🥵”
Main Praise
Fans call EPIC bars “the bees knees” and “a clean Slim Jim” for a reason: this flavor delivers bold, balanced taste that feels like actual food, not candy. The combination of bison and bacon reads smoky and satisfying, while the cranberries add just enough tart‑sweet to keep things interesting.
Reviewers who struggle with milky shakes or sweet bars often point to EPIC as an easy‑on‑the‑stomach, no‑powder alternative they can keep in a gym bag or hiking pack. Third‑party testers also like the short, readable ingredient list and the fact that the protein comes from whole meat.
Add in the portability and allergen‑friendly profile (gluten‑free, paleo), and it becomes a reliable savory counterpoint to the sweet stuff most of us carry.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is charmed. Taste is polarizing—some Redditors go as far as “gross”—and texture can read dry or chewy if you’re expecting a soft bar.
Several reviewers flag the saltiness, which can overshadow the meat if you’re sensitive; plan to drink water with it. At 7g of protein and 130 calories, it’s also light for the “protein bar” label, more snack than meal replacement.
And because this flavor includes apple‑juice‑sweetened cranberries, strict low‑sugar or Whole30 folks may pass. Price per bite can feel steep, especially if one bar doesn’t do the trick.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where expectations matter. If you want a sweet, 20‑gram protein dessert, this isn’t it; it’s closer to a refined jerky with a little fruit.
That’s why hikers and reviewers who crave a savory break tend to love it, while others—like the Redditor who crowned it “the most disgusting thing”—likely wanted a different kind of bar.
Independent roundups consistently praise EPIC’s meat bars for clean ingredients and digestibility, but they also warn about salt and lighter macros; this cranberry‑studded version adds a modest 6g of sugar to that equation, trading a bit of sweetness for brightness.
In practice, it shines as a between‑meal bite, pre‑meeting snack, or trail companion, especially if you pair it with water and maybe a handful of nuts or fruit. If you’re counting every gram of protein, you’ll need to stack it with yogurt, cheese, or another protein source.
But for savory snackers, it scratches an itch most bars ignore.
What's the bottom line?
EPIC’s Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar is a tidy, travel‑ready slab of real meat with a tart twist: smoky bison and bacon, brightened by cranberries, cured with celery powder that supplies nitrite for safety. It’s light on macros—7g protein, 130 calories—but big on flavor and ingredient simplicity, which explains the devoted fan base and the equally vocal detractors. Buy it if you want a savory, gluten‑free, paleo‑friendly snack that feels like food you’d pack for a hike.
Skip it if your goal is a meal replacement or a candy‑bar stand‑in. For many, the move is strategic: treat it as a protein‑forward anchor and build around it—pair with an apple, a cheese stick, or a small handful of almonds—for a snack that actually satisfies without a sugar rush. Bonus: it’s one of the few “protein bars” you can eat without needing to Google the ingredient list.