The Art of Pretentious Beer Talk: Are We All Just Faking It?

Have you ever found yourself in a social setting, surrounded by fellow beer enthusiasts, and felt the pressure to sound knowledgeable about craft beer? It’s a common scenario for many, and sometimes we end up saying things that are a bit beyond our grasp. At a recent bottle share event, I found myself in one of these situations.

Someone opened a barrel-aged sour, and I felt compelled to impress. So, without thinking much, I shared my “deep appreciation” for how the brett interacted with the oak tannins, resulting in some “beautiful phenolic compounds.” Honestly, I had no real understanding of what phenolic compounds even are! It seemed like a jumble of wine lingo mixed with snippets from a brewing podcast I had half-listened to months ago.

The most ironic part? Everyone around me nodded thoughtfully as if I had delivered some sage wisdom. Emboldened by their reactions, I took my pretentiousness a step further, proclaiming that this beer “expressed local terroir through indigenous microflora.” The words rolled off my tongue, and yet I couldn’t help but feel like a fraud.

Just last month, I caught myself discussing a beer’s “mouthfeel complexity” when all I really meant to say was that it had a thick consistency. In retrospect, it was a classic case of craft beer jargon being misused. It got me thinking: are we all simply regurgitating phrases we’ve heard, hoping no one will notice that we don’t fully comprehend what we’re saying?

It’s a curious phenomenon in the craft beer community, where the desire to appear knowledgeable sometimes leads to nonsensical expressions. I can’t help but wonder if anyone else shares this sentiment. Do you ever feel like you’re navigating the world of craft beer with more bravado than understanding? Is the art of pretentious beer talk something we can all relate to? Let’s hear your thoughts!