The Great Beer Discourse: Have You Ever Pretended to Understand?

Craft beer enthusiasts often find themselves in passionate discussions that can sometimes devolve into a game of pretentious terminology. Have you ever caught yourself using complex jargon about beer, only to realize you’re not entirely sure what it all means?

Recently, during a bottle share event, a friend uncorked an impressive barrel-aged sour. In that moment, I felt compelled to share my “deep appreciation” for its flavor profile, claiming how the “characteristic brett interacts with the oak tannins to create beautiful phenolic compounds.” The twist? I had no actual grasp on what phenolic compounds are. It was as if I had mashed together random wine terms with snippets I vaguely recalled from a brewing podcast.

To make matters worse, my audience nodded in agreement as though I had just imparted some profound wisdom. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, I further embellished my observation, claiming the beer “expressed local terroir through indigenous microflora.” What was I thinking?

Just last month, I found myself discussing a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity,” when all I really meant was that it had a thick texture. Such moments often lead me to believe we’re all just playing a round of craft beer mad libs—cobbling together terms we’ve overheard from seasoned connoisseurs, hoping no one will challenge our faux expertise.

Do you ever feel the same pressure? Let’s unite in our shared experiences of voicing articulate opinions about beer, even when the words escape us. After all, who hasn’t faked wine or beer savvy at some point? Cheers to honest discussions about our favorite brews!