text: Sleep-deprived New Yorkers make switch to beef jerky to get caffeine fix 
   
   Rosier/News Gabriel Colinesco gives Perky Jerky smile of approval. 
   
   Put down that espresso. And forget about chugging another Red Bull. 
   
   Sleep-deprived New Yorkers have a new way to get their caffeine fix: beef jerky. 
   
   Tribeca inventor Matt Keiser, 38, came up with what he thinks is the world's first caffeinated beef jerky after spilling a can of Red Bull on the meaty snack while skiing in Utah four years ago. 
   
   Perky Jerky hit the Internet in August and will be sold in Sports Authority shops beginning next week. 
   
   "This is a great combination," said Keiser, who founded the company with his ski partner, Brian Levin, 37. 
   
   "It is like vodka and orange juice, or peanut butter and chocolate," Keiser said. 
   
   The odd treat sells for $2.99 for a 1 oz. bag and $4.99 for a 2 oz. bag. Each ounce contains 60 mg of caffeine - the same as slurping down a small cup of coffee or about one can of Red Bull. 
   
   The Daily News took the jerky to the streets, asking caffeine freaks to try the peppy - and peppery - snack. 
   
   Brave barista Keyon Revels, 24, walked away from working a Wall Street espresso machine to chomp on some Perky Jerky. "Ewww," Revels yelped. "It is disgusting. I like beef jerky. I like caffeine. But it is not a good combination." 
   
   Engineer and gym rat Sal Bouseliman, 41, said the jerky gave him an extra jolt while lifting weights at New York Sports Club. "I didn't crash after the workout like I do with Red Bull," he said. 
   
   simonew@nydailynews.com ||||| Ready to step up your game? Perky Jerky is the fuel to take you to the next level. This ultra-premium jerky powers professional adults to keep them focused and alert all day long. As an all natural, high-protein, low-fat snack, Perky Jerky is perfect for active lifestyles. 
   
   It's also the best tasting jerky on the planet: Perky Jerky is created from premium strips of tender beef, given a teriyaki-pepper flavoring, and finished with a hint of Guarana for a unique boost you won't find in any other snack.
target: – Next time you’re tired and hungry, don’t waste time pounding a Red Bull and a snack—get both fixes with some Perky Jerky. Available on the Internet and coming next week to Sports Authority outlets in New York, each ounce packs as much caffeine as one cup of coffee or a can of Red Bull. “This is a great combination,” a company founder tells the Daily News, “like vodka and orange juice, or peanut butter and chocolate.” Matt Keiser says the idea was born on a Utah ski slope 4 years ago, when he slopped Red Bull on some jerky. It got mixed person-on-the-street reviews, however. “It is disgusting,” one New Yorker says. “I like beef jerky. I like caffeine. But it is not a good combination.” But, says another, “I didn’t crash after the workout like I do with Red Bull.”