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Tina Charles was part of one of collegiate basketball\u2019s greatest championship runs as a member of the University of Connecticut Huskies women\u2019s team. Tina Charles is embarking upon a new endeavor harkening back to her basketball days via a new beer brand, 78 Brewing Co.<\/p>\n
Tina Charles spoke with USA Today<\/a> to share wider details about 78 Brewing Co., with the name of the brand inspired by UConn\u2019s historic 78-0 back-to-back NCAA championship run. Charles, who was teammates at the university with retired basketball star and activist Maya Moore, is now looking to score in another arena that doesn\u2019t routinely see Black ownership, much less women.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to tell stories through beer and just trying to bring communities together,\u201d Charles told USA TODAY Sports and referencing her brand\u2019s Hazy IPA. \u201cThe students are rolling back in for UConn, and I really hope it\u2019s a beer that\u2019s very attractive to them.\u201d<\/p>\n As a junior and senior at UConn, Charles was instrumental in helping coach Geno Auriemma record the amazing feat of two straight undefeated seasons. Charles, who went on to have a successful WNBA<\/a> career as an eight-time All-Star, the 2010 Rookie Of The Year honor, and named to the All-WNBA First Team five times, is now placing her focus on the beer world after discovering a love for beer<\/a> after she turned 21.<\/p>\n \u201cI love a good hazy IPA. I love the citrus and tropical notes. It was always a beverage that I would gravitate towards when I was with friends or family or just hanging out. It was always around for celebratory moments,\u201d Charles said. \u201cI wanted to make a beer that was for non-beer lovers and non-IPA lovers. It\u2019s very approachable, it\u2019s very crushable, and it doesn\u2019t have that bitterness bite. I just wanted a beer that\u2019s more on the smooth finish and crisp side, which is what 78-0 is.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles is in rare company as less than 1% of breweries are Black-owned and even less than that owned by Black women. The beer is available across Connecticut and at Mohegan Sun Arena, the home arena of Charles\u2019 former team the Connecticut Sun, where it\u2019s served in a special edition can.<\/p>\n