"Complex" is a Useless Beer Descriptor

If you can back up the claim of complex with whatever makes it 'complex' in your eyes/nose/palate, then so be it. If you just throw it around like 'goddamn, that's some sweet horse blanket and kitten lips' to be trendy...then whatever.

 

After reading the article, yeah that guy drank too much wine/cool aid, so take it as a grain of salt.

 

I would say the word "Complex" is associated with confusion and ignorance. I do not mean that in a bad way but if some one is talking about a beer being complex, I would say that person is not educated to the ingredients that they are tasting. For that person it could be anew beer style they have never tried.

 

I find many novice or new craft beer drinkers toss the word "complex" around to describe what their personal palate can't identify. It's become such a trendy word with the popularity of craft beer gaining many new fans/drinkers. What happened to the days of describing what you smelled, what you tasted and the overall flavors you took in with a friend without resorting to complex as a way out?

 

I think some of its fear of being ostracized! So, once again, Complex becomes a general term for people who do not know or are afraid to say what they are tasting. I think I still miss at times what I THINK I am tasting.

 

I would say complex is a valid term as long as you can back it up with your perception. The BJCP uses "complex" to describe a RIS.

http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style13.php#1f

 

I'm with Epic. If you can explain the complexity, that's acceptable. But if you can explain it... is it still complex? Or just complicated?

 

I agree, but I do try to note the complexity (or lack thereof) of each beer I review in addition to describing what I smell, taste, etc.

That said, complexity is not always a good thing. The art of a style like say, a hefeweizen, is in its simplicity - and the subtlety and balance needed to execute a simple flavour profile well.

 

To me complex= a beer I have to think about to dig all the subtle & nuanced flavors & other aspects out. If I'm just looking to throw a few back & not give my beer deep thought, I will not appreciate it. Many times I do not appreciate or want complex beers. Other times; they blow my mind. Or as Shrek states " Ogres are like onions"

 

At

least 10 on that page. Hit Ctrl+F, type in "complex." Total is listed.

 

Complex is not a useful description, says I.

 

"Complex" is perfectly acceptable if used to to establish that a beer is multifaceted. Brownie points if one can then go on to describe what elements lend to the beer justly being described as complex.

 

"Complex" could just be used as another way of saying a beer is more than just an example of a certain style.

 

Most of the time I see that term used is newbies writing their first reviews, when they can't quite pick out the flavors they are tasting. I'm sure I did the same thing when I started reviewing.

 

As with any piece of language, the validity of its use depends entirely on the context. As others have noted, if "complex" is used as a descriptor in and of itself--for example "the smell of this beer is really complex!"--then no, it's not very useful.

But if is merely intended to describe how specific flavor/smell profiles work together, then I see no problem with its use. For example, here is an excerpt from a recent review I did of Founders Imp Stout:

Smell - This is probably the best-smelling non-BA imperial stout I've ever inhaled. Heck, it's up there amongst all stouts, period. A decadent layering of rich roasted barley, charred toast, baker's chocolate, fresh french roast grounds, molasses, burnt caramel, and even some faint hints of smokiness. The depth and complexity of this beer just continues to amaze, and I'm all the more impressed at the fact that it accomplishes such complexity without the aid of the boozy notes that will often accompany stouts that sit in liquor barrels.

In this case, complexity is meant to underscore the bolded part--the fact that there are so many different elements at play--rather than simply being an adjective. Yet his seems fair to me, but perhaps others disagree.

 

It's not as utterly meaningless as "craft"
Complexity is a valid term.I'm always amazed by how much extra complexity is available from a cask beer compared to its bottled or canned brother. It's a matter of extra layers of subtle tastes and nuances.
For those who haven't had the experience, look at freshly made ground coffee and what the same stuff tastes like after being kept warm for an hour or two.The base flavours remain but it's sort of muddy and the "sparkle" has gone.
I've experienced a magical degree of complexity from quite modest strength beers yet found many IPAs , though flavourful, to be somewhat one dimensional.