The Art of Beer Talk: Recognizing Our Pretentious Moments

As craft beer enthusiasts, we often find ourselves immersed in conversations that can seemingly elevate our appreciation for the brew in hand. However, there are instances where our enthusiasm leads us to utter phrases that sound impressive but require a closer examination of our genuine understanding.

Just recently at a bottle share, I found myself in a situation that made me pause and reflect. A fellow enthusiast poured a barrel-aged sour, and before I knew it, I was spouting what I thought were impressive descriptors about the beer’s complexity: “I truly appreciated the characteristic brett interacting with the oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.” The irony? I have little to no grasp of what phenolic compounds really are—I likely just strung together wine terminology I vaguely remembered from a brewing podcast.

To make matters worse, I noticed my audience nodding in agreement, as if I had revealed some profound insight. Fueled by their apparent approval, I proceeded to embellish my commentary by referencing the beer’s ability to “express local terroir through indigenous microflora.”

Reflecting on this experience, I realized that the previous month I had also described another beer’s “mouthfeel complexity,” which, in reality, just meant it tasted thick. Here I was, weaving nonsensical phrases resembling a craft beer mad lib.

It seems we often engage in a kind of verbal performance, repeating terms and concepts we’ve adopted from others, rather than articulating our true experiences. I can’t help but wonder if others share this feeling—are we all sometimes caught in the act of pretentious beer talk, hoping not to be called out for our lack of understanding?

In the end, while passion for craft beer is always admirable, let’s not lose sight of the joy of simplicity in our appreciation of these brews. We might find that the most genuine conversations are those grounded in straightforward, heartfelt responses rather than a parade of jargon. Cheers to honest discussions about our beloved beverages!