Why do we call ourselves beer geeks or beer nerds?

...and a jillion threads listing them off. Let's spare this one if we can!

 

I am cosigning on this. Pretty much exactly what I came to say.

Geek is endearing and has the connotation of intense passion and knowledge, connoisseur is haughty and suggests snobbery and condescension.

 

Because years of counseling have finally made me less self-conscious than I used to be...?

 

The advocate is the connoisseur's passive-aggressive little brother

 

Self-deprecation, very important within our hobby. Therefore, Beer Geek! Even in Dutch we use that word without translation.

 

'Geeks and Nerds' removes the tool factor. Geeks/Nerds tend to represent true followers of a craft and not fad/trend chasers...

 

Number 1 reason for not being called a connoisseur: It's douchey

Number 2: connoisseur means expert. I'm not expert in beer. I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm sure there are some connoisseurs on this site; however, I am not one.

I prefer beer geek. Geek means someone who is interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject. I say that fits better.

 

Some of us just enjoy good drink without any labels attached.

 

Because "Hoarder" and "Catador" were already taken.

 

I've got nothing wrong with the word connoisseur and don't think it's "douchey" whatever that means. I guess it'd be fun to be a connoisseur of beer as it would make me an expert (a fundamental element of being a connoisseur), but I doubt that's going to happen any time soon (nor do I really want to be an expert with beer, as it would require me to have to focus on beer pretty extensively, which I don't think I could do with my life). So it'd be fun to be a connoisseur for a bit, but that's all.

 

I don't think the word connoisseur is douchey - I know a handful of people who I'd probably describe as being connoisseurs in relation to their chosen hobby/passion. But I think referring to oneself as a connoisseur is fairly tool-like.

If my friends want to refer to me as that though, then I'll lap that s**t up all day!

But if it's a situation where someone is like "oh I had this great beer when I was out in California. I think it was an IPA with a green and red label" and I say "Pliny" and they're like "holy shit you're right, that was it, how did you know that", I'll say - "because I'm a beer geek", not "because I'm a beer connoisseur"

 

Neither.


Both have a lot of negative connotations that I don't think apply. Maybe something like 'enthusiast' is closer to the mark, for me at least.

 

Waving my geek flag proudly!!!!! (See keychain -----------------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^)

 

When the news media need an "expert" on craft beer, I'll at least have the title, even if I don't have the expertise.

 

Man up. You're all a bunch of alcoholics.

 

Because of Big Beer. MillerCoors or InBev probably use that as a marketing ploy.

We should actually be called "real beer imbibers".

(Pure speculation)

 

How about calling ourselves beerbarians to toughen up the image?

 

I prefer beer enthusiast or drinker.

 

I'm a beer nerd through and through. Geek isn't hardcore enough. My obsession runs deep.