# What’s the most pretentious thing you’ve ever said about beer that you secretly didn’t understand yourself?

The Art of Beer Speak: Have You Ever Pretended to Know More Than You Do?

In the world of craft beer aficionados, it’s not uncommon to encounter individuals who toss around impressive-sounding terminology that often leaves them—and those around them—wondering about its true meaning. Last weekend, during a lively bottle share, I found myself swept up in the moment and launched into a grandiloquent description of a barrel-aged sour beer. With confidence, I praised the “characteristic brett interacting with the oak tannins to create beautiful phenolic compounds.” In that moment, I felt like a connoisseur, albeit one with a burgeoning sense of panic as I realized I had no clear understanding of what phenolic compounds even were. It seemed I had unwittingly mixed wine jargon with snippets of brewing wisdom I’d half-absorbed from a podcast.

To my surprise, my audience nodded in agreement as if I had stumbled upon an enlightening revelation. Encouraged by their response, I boldly asserted that the beer was “expressing local terroir through indigenous microflora.” What was I even saying?

Reflecting on similar moments, I recalled casually commenting on a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity” when, in reality, I was simply trying to articulate its thick texture. My admiration for the craft had morphed into a high-stakes game of verbal acrobatics, reminiscent of a craft beer version of Mad Libs.

What I often wonder is whether many of us are guilty of regurgitating phrases we’ve overheard, operating under the guise of expertise, all while hoping no one challenges our assertions. Can anyone else relate to this experience? It seems we all share a common bond in our love for beer, even if our vocabulary doesn’t always reflect our level of understanding. Let’s raise our glasses to the joy of craft beer and the amusing notion that sometimes, it’s okay to simply savor the moment—even if we can’t quite articulate what we’re drinking.

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