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The Art of Beer Talk: When Knowledge Meets Pretension

This past weekend at a bottle share, I found myself in an amusing predicament that many beer enthusiasts might resonate with. A barrel-aged sour was presented, and I felt compelled to showcase my appreciation for craft beer’s nuanced complexities. In the moment, I confidently exclaimed how I “truly appreciated the characteristic brett interacting with oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.”

However, here’s the kicker—I have absolutely no clue what phenolic compounds really are. It appears that I had inadvertently fused some wine jargon with vague memories from a brewing podcast I listened to ages ago.

What surprised me even more was the reaction of my peers; they nodded along as if I had just uncovered a profound truth about the beer. Encouraged by their approval, I went even further and mentioned the beer’s ability to “express local terroir through indigenous microflora.” At that point, I realized I was venturing into the territory of craft beer buzzwords, concocting a narrative that may have sounded elaborate but was, in reality, nothing more than fluff.

Just a month earlier, I had found myself characterizing a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity” when I simply meant it had a thick texture. It struck me how easy it is for us beer aficionados to slip into the world of pretentious verbiage, often sounding like we’re reciting crafted beer mad libs rather than having an authentic conversation about our favorite brews.

I can’t help but wonder if the craft beer community sometimes falls into a collective trap, echoing phrases we’ve heard from others while secretly hoping not to be exposed as lacking true understanding. Does anyone else share this experience of diving into beer jargon just to keep up appearances? Would love to hear your stories!