Many baseball fans credit sabermetrics as helping to evolve the game. Statistics such as on-base percentage, slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging have become valuable tools for general managers when evaluating talent. Just as America’s Favorite Past Time has evolved, so has the U.S. beer market. One segment that has benefited from that evolution is imported beer.
“The imported beer market has evolved dramatically over the past 20 years,” says Brian Sudano, managing partner with New York-based Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC). “Originally, imported beers were styles not seen in the U.S. Part of the value proposition dealt with the authenticity and attachment to a specific origin or province. With the rapid growth and penetration of craft beer, more flavorful beers are readily available. Tap rooms have taken on the mystique similar to foreign lands. As a result, the specialness has been somewhat eroded.”