For some 90 years, American beer culture has been defined by the industrial giants that gained dominance in the years following the end of prohibition. Since then, United States distributors have been invested in satisfying the overwhelming demand for large-scale production beer that has become so strongly rooted among American consumers.
When a new appreciation for the local, small-batch production beer inherent of our pre-prohibition era roots surfaced in the early 1990s, there was not a distributor in the United States who recognized the potential buried in this fresh, though subtle, demand. That is until 1992, when Martin Wetten, inspired by the celebrated preservation of small-craft breweries in Europe and fueled by his progressive vision for the future of craft beer in the United States, founded Wetten Importers, Inc. and proceeded to do what no other distributor had yet envisioned: pioneer the re-emergence of craft beer into the American market. Over the next five years this vision was met with anticipated enthusiasm, and in 1997 Wetten Importers founded Hop & Wine Beverage to take full control of distribution operations in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
Twenty-one years, 160 brands, and over 3,000 accounts later, Hop & Wine has cultivated a prospering craft beverage market in the Washington, D.C. and Virginia area, and we continue to foster a steadfast commitment to its evolution. March of 2012 saw our expansion into leading-edge facilities in Sterling, Virginia, allowing us to accommodate our driving development and increasingly far-reaching client base.
The return of craft beer has re-defined beer culture in America. We have helped to pioneer it, and we are thrilled to steer our clients into the future with a dynamic vision that has been the essence of our business since inception.
Value Proposition
Our portfolio of over 160 brands of craft beer, wines, meads, ciders, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages reflects our passion for finely crafted products made with superior ingredients. With the support of a dedicated, knowledgeable, and highly-trained staff, we invest every aspect of our business into cultivating strong, lasting relationships with our vendors, customers, and employees in order to procure the highest quality products for our clients and deliver exceptional customer service.
