The Art of Beer Speak: Have You Ever Overcomplicated Your Appreciation?

Last weekend, I attended a bottle share that was filled with enthusiastic beer lovers excited to showcase their favorite brews. As the evening unfolded, I found myself in a situation that many craft beer aficionados may relate to—trying to sound knowledgeable about a barrel-aged sour. As the rich liquid hit my glass, my mouth was quicker than my brain, and I exclaimed how much I “truly appreciated the characteristic brett interacting with the oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.”

In a moment of honesty, I have to admit something: I don’t fully understand what phenolic compounds are. I had unconsciously woven together snippets of vocabulary from the world of wine and bits I had picked up from a brewing podcast. To my surprise, everyone around me nodded in agreement as if I had just shared an epiphany, prompting me to dig deeper into my bag of brewing jargon. I even mentioned how the beer “expresses local terroir through indigenous microflora.”

Reflecting on this experience, I couldn’t help but cringe. Just last month, I caught myself tossing around the phrase “mouthfeel complexity” when what I actually meant was that the beer had a thick texture. It struck me: how often do we find ourselves resorting to craft beer jargon, sounding like we’re reading from a script when in reality, we’re just stringing together fancy terms?

This moment of clarity made me realize that we often revert to repeating what we’ve heard others say, either to sound sophisticated or to fit in with the crowd. Does that resonate with you? Many of us are walking a fine line between genuine appreciation for the craft and the anxiety of being called out for not truly understanding what we’re talking about.

So, the next time you find yourself at a beer tasting or share event, remember that it’s perfectly acceptable to speak from the heart, even if your description of a beer is simply that it tastes good. After all, it’s the enjoyment of the beer that counts, not the complexity of our vocabulary. Let’s celebrate our love for craft beer, flaws and all!