The Art of Beer Talk: How We Sometimes Fake Our Way Through Craft Conversations

Craft beer enthusiasts often find themselves in passionate discussions about their favorite brews. However, sometimes those conversations can spiral into pretentious territory, leaving us wondering if we’re really in the know or just bluffing our way through. This past weekend, at a local bottle share event, I found myself in one such predicament.

As the host unveiled a barrel-aged sour, I confidently proclaimed my admiration for how the “characteristic brett interacts with the oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.” The moment the words left my mouth, I had a sinking feeling: I truly had no grasp of what “phenolic compounds” even meant. It seemed like I had fished out a phrase from a wine appreciation class and blended it with vague recollections from a craft brewing podcast I’d listened to.

What’s ironic is that the group nodded in agreement, as if I had just dropped profound wisdom. Fueled by the positive reception, I decided to further embellish my analysis, mentioning the beer’s ability to “express local terroir through indigenous microflora.” If I had any doubts before, they quickly morphed into a full-blown identity crisis.

Just last month, I caught myself discussing a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity,” when in reality, all I meant was that it had a rather thick texture. It dawned on me that I was engaging in what could only be described as “craft beer mad libs”—throwing around terminology I barely understood in hopes of sounding knowledgeable. The truth is, many of us might be caught in the same quagmire, parroting phrases we’ve heard from others, all while hoping no one calls us out for our lack of understanding.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Or perhaps you’ve witnessed it elsewhere in the craft beer community? It seems that while our passion for beer is genuine, sometimes our vocabulary can lead us down a pretentious path. Let’s embrace the joy of beer for what it is: a social experience meant for enjoyment and discovery, not just a stage for showing off our linguistic prowess!