Big Oyster Brewery

Summer on the Eastern Shore of the Delmarva peninsula means one thing: tourist season. For local high schoolers, it’s the chance to make some extra money at one of the many restaurants, which is precisely what Red Killpack and Mike Anderson did. The two started as busboys and moved up the ladder to brewer and director of sales at Big Oyster Brewery in Lewes, Delaware in just a matter of years.

What Began As Summer Jobs. In 2006 Killpack was a sophomore in high school when he decided to take a job as a busboy at the newly opened Claws Seafood House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. “I joined the restaurant industry because I was looking for a supplemental night job that went with my day time pool lifeguard gig during the summer months,” shares Killpack.

June of 2007 was the summer before Anderson’s junior year in high school. He just wanted a break from the 105-degree heat, putting up exterior electric with his dad. His football trainer introduced him to the restaurant owner, Jeff Hamer, founder of the Fins Hospitality Group (FHG). Hamer, nicknamed the “Big Oyster” due to his love of oysters and the fact that his license plate happens to read Oyster1.

Big Oyster Brewery, operating since 2015, brewing local craft beer made by the people for the people.
Named 2018’s fastest growing independent craft brewery in America by the Brewer’s Association.