I don’t know if I’d call myself that all the time, though. Much as I feel “aficionado” and “connoisseur” are stately words to describe one who enjoys beer, I can see how that might sound a bit pretentious. And when some of these words are broken down, they may mean different things to different people.

All these terms look good in print, but sound a little too haughty when spoken. That’s the challenge: to make beer appreciation respectable, but at the same time inclusive.

Also, I seem to have waited in line for Star Wars, a Wii and at Dark Lord Day. Geez, Swordboarder sure knows how to label a guy!

Beer Nerd really only applies to people studying beer in labs. When you get into heated arguments about different beer proteins being better for foam stability you know you’re a beer nerd. The side exception to this rule is Beer History Nerd, which is also acceptable nerd status.

Beer Fan is too basic overall. A person who drinks a 12 pack of Bud Light per day could also be consider a beer fan, especially if said person has in the past made bets on the “Bud Bowl”.

Cerevisaphile could far too easily be mistaken for someone who drinks a lot of Mexican beers. The other issue is that you must explain to people what that means. If we only get one new term in beer culture I hope Cicerone is the one that sticks first.

I’m actually quite satisfied with the current system. If you have knowledge of beer you’re really in one of three categories, geek, brewer or writer. Geeks are really just terms for people who don’t get paid for something they’re enthusiastic about.