‘That’s how we remember it’: Legend of Drowning Fish endures as Bethel Park brewery marks 1st anniversary

So, two guys walk into a bar with a talking fish. Then they all decide to open a brewery together.

“We say that’s a true story,” Pleasant Hills resident Don Tomino said. “We were drinking a little bit that day, but that’s how we remember it.”

He and Mike Ameel are co-owners of Drowning Fish Brewing Co. at 5454 Library Road in Bethel Park, the latest establishment in a building where libations have been served since about as long as anyone can recall.

The somewhat paradoxical name comes from Tomino joking with his daughter, who thought it would be something good to call the brewery.

“I said, ‘You’re crazy. We’re not going to call it Drowning Fish.’ I talked to Mike, and he said the same thing,” Tomino said. But lo and behold, “He talked to some people, his friends, and he came back and said, ‘Everybody likes that name.’

“Then I wrote the story, because I wanted people to know the fish doesn’t drown at all. We save the fish.”

Whatever the case, the partners are celebrating their first anniversary in business during September, nearly 20 years after they met as members of the Three Rivers Alliance of Serious Homebrewers. Yes, the acronym is TRASH.

Both had been brewing at home since about a decade and a half before that.

“I guess that’s one of those things you always think about, is taking a hobby and making a profession out of it,” Ameel said. “Probably about 2017, we started buying some used equipment. We were looking for a place to set up business.”

He and his wife, Susan, live in Bethel Park, not too far away from the former Franks’ Pub & Grill, previously Lacky’s and, going way back, Paul’s.

“We bought the building in October 2019, right before covid hit,” he said. “We thought we’d be open in six to eight months, and it took us two years.”

Since then, Drowning Fish’s small-batch beer offerings have proved to be popular with folks from the neighborhood and supporters of local breweries. Added features include Sunday brunch, Trivia Night on Thursdays and live music on Wednesdays.

The second Wednesday of each month is Open Mic Night, hosted by Jeff Pogas, who has known Ameel since both attended Highlands High School in Harrison, let’s just say, more than a few years ago.

“Mike hired me a few months ago to play solo,” Pogas, who is in a band called Cool Change, said. “There were a few people here. I said, ‘Mike, I could probably bring a lot more people in. Let me turn it into an open mic.’”

Ameel agreed and has been happy with the results.

“People play 15-minute sets, and usually they bring people to see them play,” he said. “And so it’s been a pretty good draw.”

In addition to Pogas launching the August event, musicians who performed included college student Casey Lako of Pleasant Hills and critically acclaimed Mt. Lebanon native Joe Matzzie. Interestingly, they each played completely different original compositions with the same name, “Home.”

And both were treated to enthusiastic responses by those in attendance, which wouldn’t come as a surprise to Tomino.

“These customers are just great,” he said. “They’re the nicest people, and it’s really fun to meet them all and talk to them. That’s a really big plus for us, to have customers like we have.”

The Legend of the Drowning Fish Brewing Co.

While walking along the beach drinking cold beers, Mike and Don noticed a fish flopping in the sand. As they approached, the fish yelled, “Help me! I’m drowning!”

The guys started to help the fish back into the ocean when he yelled, “No, stop! Just drop me into your beer mug!” As the fish was revived in the mug, he said, “Thanks, guys. Let’s all go to happy hour. I’m buying!”

Don and Mike learned the fish’s name was Reefer. He was named after the coral reefs (wink, wink). They also learned the three of them had a love for good beer. Many pints later, the newfound friends decided to open a brewery together. The three also decided that fish would not be served on the menu. Although Reefer did mention he had an uncle he wouldn’t mind seeing on a bun.

And Drowning Fish Brewing Co. was born.

(That’s our story, and we’re sticking with it.)