The Art of Beer Talk: When Pretentious Language Falls Flat

Ah, the world of craft beer—filled with complex flavors, intricate brewing methods, and a language that can sometimes make even the most seasoned enthusiast feel a bit out of their depth. Recently, I found myself at a bottle share, an event where eager beer aficionados come together to sample and discuss unique brews. It was the perfect backdrop for an embarrassing moment of overreach in my beer vocabulary.

As someone cracked open a barrel-aged sour, I felt compelled to sound knowledgeable. Out of nowhere, I confidently stated, “I truly appreciate the characteristic Brett interacting with the oak tannins to create some beautiful phenolic compounds.” The moment those words left my mouth, I realized I had strayed into territory where my understanding ceased to exist. What exactly are phenolic compounds? I suspect I just combined wine terminology from an old conversation with something I vaguely recalled from a brewing podcast.

The real kicker? My fellow beer enthusiasts nodded in agreement as if I had uttered some great truth. Emboldened by their responses, I added, “This beer beautifully expresses local terroir through indigenous microflora.” Just a few more fancy phrases strung together—did I even know what I was saying?

This wasn’t an isolated incident. The month before, I vividly recall using the term “mouthfeel complexity” to describe a beer that was simply thick in consistency. In hindsight, I might as well have been playing a game of craft beer Mad Libs, filling the sentences with the jargon we’d heard from others, hoping no one would catch on to the fact that we didn’t really know what we were talking about.

Does this resonate with anyone else? It seems that in the quest to sound knowledgeable and sophisticated, we sometimes resort to empty phrases. It raises the question: are we all just parroting others, or is there a deeper conversation about beer that we’re inadvertently missing? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments!