The Charlottesville 29

It’s here. The beer tribute to the life principles on which Tony Bennett’s UVa men’s basketball program is built. Five Pillars Ale dates back to The Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions, when a team of dads joined to win Beer Run’s offering: the opportunity to brew your own beer with Champion Brewing, and celebrate its release with a party. The dads named their beer Five Pillars Ale after the pillars that Tony Bennett uses to guide one of the most successful college basketball programs of our time: Humility, Servanthood, Thankfulness, Unity, and Passion. “As a father, I’m so fortunate that my children are surrounded by UVa athletic teams that inspire both parents and children,” said one of the winning bidders, Rob Strassheim. “The Five Pillars provide teachable moments for our children and are core values that everyone should be inspired to embrace.”

But, after they brewed the beer in January 2020, COVID-19 prevented its scheduled release that March. The good news is that COVID did not cancel the release. It just postponed it. Four years later, the Champion brewer who helped make Five Pillars Ale, Josh Skinner, is now at Selvedge Brewing, and has brewed the beer again so that the winning bidders can enjoy its release after all.

Five Pillars Ale is a hoppy Virginia pale ale brewed in honor of the principles on which Tony Bennett’s basketball program is built. With some tweaks made to the 2020 version, Skinner considers the beer a hybrid of a classic English summer ale, with subtle bready maltiness, and a modern American pale ale, with plenty of hops. Fermenting with a British ale yeast, Skinner said, lends delicate stone fruit and pear-like esters.

Hops: Mosaic Cryo, Elani
5.6% abv, 35 IBU, 13.2 Plato starting gravity
Appearance: pale gold, slight haze, pillowy white foam
Aroma: pineapple, orange zest, floral
Flavor: tangerine, orange hard candy, fruit cup, guava

Five Pillars Ale Release Party and Memorabilia Giveaway

Taste Five Pillars Ale for the first time Friday March 15 at Selvedge. While there, you can pick up a one-of-a-kind Five Pillars Ale pint glass and coaster, just by making an advance donation to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. To be eligible donors must use this link. While supplies last:

• A minimum $50 donation earns a Five Pillars Ale pint glass.
• A minimum $100 donation earns a Five Pillars Ale pint glass and coaster.
• A minimum $1,000 donation earns a pint glass and coaster signed by UVa coach Tony Bennett.  Note: Only five signed coasters are available. Donors interested in a signed coaster should send an email to charlottesville29@gmail.com to confirm availability before donating.

After making your donation, bring proof of the donation to Selvedge on March 15 to pick up your memorabilia. Donors who do not pick up their memorabilia at that time may forfeit eligibility. If any glasses remain after advance donations, they will be available via onsite donations on March 15. No purchase necessary at Selvedge.

Date: March 15, 2024
Time: 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: Selvedge Brewing, 2415 Ivy Road, Suite 190