The Art of Pretentious Beer Talk: Confessions from a Craft Enthusiast

As craft beer enthusiasts, how often do we find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of sophisticated terminology, eager to impress our peers at social gatherings? Recently, I experienced this firsthand during a bottle share event that had me scratching my head in disbelief.

During the tasting, a friend uncorked a barrel-aged sour that piqued everyone’s interest. In a burst of enthusiasm, I found myself declaring how I “genuinely appreciated the interaction between the brett and the oak tannins, which produced some exquisite phenolic compounds.” The truth? I have little to no understanding of what “phenolic compounds” actually refer to. In a moment of inspired confidence, I cobbled together jargon from wine tasting and fragments of conversations I’d overheard on a brewing podcast.

To my surprise, the group nodded approvingly, as though I had just dropped some profound wisdom on them. Emboldened by their reactions, I added that the beer “expressed local terroir through indigenous microflora.” Talk about overcomplicating things!

Looking back, I cringe at a recent episode where I talked about a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity.” What I really meant was that it tasted thick – a concept that arguably requires far less pretentiousness.

In retrospect, I realize I was navigating through a craft beer version of mad libs, stringing together phrases that seemed to fit but ultimately didn’t convey anything meaningful. It raises an interesting question: Are we merely echoing the words of others, hoping we won’t be exposed for not truly understanding the craft?

If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation—attempting to sound knowledgeable while inwardly grappling with confusion—know that you’re not alone. The world of craft beer is as complex as it is fascinating, and perhaps we should all take a step back and simply enjoy the brews for what they are, rather than what they sound like. Let’s celebrate our love for beer—connoisseurship is nice, but genuine enjoyment is even better!