It was a typical Friday night. I was sitting at the bar at my favorite tiki joint, nursing a glass of rum, when suddenly, a woman walked in — and it was like time stood still. 

She strolled up to the bar and flashed the bartender a million-dollar smile. “I’ll have a Hey Bartender: Rum Runner. You know, the Sour beer from New Image?” 

She must’ve felt me looking at her, because she turned around, and her eyes met mine. “Have you tried one of these before?” she asked, smiling.

I shook my head, and her eyes widened. “You simply MUST taste it,” she insisted. “It’s delicious. The brewers make it with blackberries, pineapples, blood oranges, pomegranates, AND bananas. They actually used 75 lbs of fruit per barrel, so you know this thing is juicy! It’s so drenched in tropical flavor, every sip makes me feel like I’m lounging on a beach in the Bahamas.”

“Say,” she added, “What are you drinking?”

“Rum, neat,” I replied. 

She laughed, then turned. “Hey, bartender!” she called. “One more for my friend, here.”

The bartender returned with two pints filled to the brim with liquid in a beautiful shade of magenta, garnished with a lemon wedge. We clinked glasses, and we each took a sip. She was right. The taste really did remind me of a tropical paradise.

“Well?” she asked. “What do you think?”

Smiling, I replied, “I think . . . this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

*USA Today named New Image one of the Best New Breweries of 2018

Tavour strictly supports independent beer. New Image Brewing is certified independent by the Brewers Association