The Art of Pretentious Beer Talk: Confessions from the Craft Beer Community

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a craft beer gathering, attempting to sound knowledgeable but instead feeling a twinge of uncertainty about what you’re saying? If so, you’re not alone. Recently, I experienced a moment that perfectly encapsulated this phenomenon, and it made me reflect on the joys and absurdities of beer culture.

During a bottle share last weekend, my attention was captured by a barrel-aged sour. In an attempt to impress my fellow beer enthusiasts, I confidently declared that I had an appreciation for how the “characteristic brett interacted with the oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.” As I spoke, a wave of self-doubt washed over me; in truth, I had little understanding of what “phenolic compounds” actually are. It turns out I had merely combined some wine jargon with fragments of information from a brewing podcast I had listened to in passing.

What happened next was even more amusing—everyone around me nodded with earnest agreement, as if I had spouted insightful wisdom. Encouraged by their reactions, I felt compelled to elaborate further on how the beer “expressed local terroir through indigenous microflora.” It was a grand performance, built on a foundation of shaky knowledge.

Reflecting on this experience, I realized that I’m not the only one who occasionally engages in what I refer to as “craft beer Mad Libs.” Just last month, I found myself using the term “mouthfeel complexity” when my intention was simply to describe a beer as tasting thick. It was an amusing reminder of how easily we can slip into pretentious language, often echoing phrases we’ve heard without fully grasping their meanings.

In the world of craft beer, it seems we sometimes inadvertently mimic the experts, hoping to sound sophisticated in the eyes of our peers. But perhaps there’s a sense of camaraderie in this shared charade. Do you ever feel like you’re just mimicking terms and concepts, secretly worried that someone will see through your facade?

Let’s keep the dialogue going—have you had similar experiences in the craft beer scene? What pretentious things have you said that left you second-guessing your understanding? Share your stories and let’s enjoy the humor in our sometimes convoluted conversations about beer!