One of the great things about the craft beer industry it’s its ability to bring people together. We’re an industry where collaboration is common, new friendships are formed and new beers are born when like-minded brewers get together. This is certainly the case with Lost Worlds and Wilmington’s Mad Mole Brewing.

What started as a friendly visit to Lost Worlds’ taproom has resulted in a double collaboration brew, taking turns brewing the same style/recipe in each other’s brew house. With one batch in the tanks in Wilmington, their team is headed to Lost Worlds this week. This collaborative event leads to key learning all around.

“It’s always interesting brewing on other equipment,” said DG Gonzalez, Director of Brewing and Head Brewer at Lost Worlds. “They brew on a bag in a tank electric system, where they get some of their power from a solar panel system on the roof.”

The team brewed an American Pale Ale single hopped with Zamba hops and will brew the same recipe on Lost Worlds’ direct gas-fired system. To kick off the collaboration, there’s a Meet the Brewers event on Wednesday, July 7th from 6-9 in the taproom, where we’ll release two of their beers on tap for our guests to enjoy.

Getting to Know Mad Mole Brewing: A conversation with founders Ole Pederson and Martin de Jongh

How long have you been brewing?

We work together in our day job as computer programmers for 25 years now and are both home brewers. In 2018 we decided to open a brewery, while keeping our day job. We actually share space in the building where we work our day jobs, and typically brew early in the morning before walking next door to work. Our boss is also a partner in the brewery, along with a friend who’s an attorney -- so we’re all in this together.

How did you come up with the name Mad Mole?

Mole is a combination of both of our name; Martin and Ole. The Mad part comes into play because brewing is similar to being a bit of a mad scientist.

What makes you unique?

We were recently voted America’s Favorite Small Solar Brewery. Half of our roof is covered in solar panels; something we decided to do early on. About one-third of our power usage is solar.

Tell us about the collab day at Mad Mole?

We had a great time with Dave and DG brewing here! We have about 2,000 square-feet in total, so our system is much smaller and very different than what they are used to brewing on. That’s the great thing about a collaboration brew day, you get to hang out, brew beer and learn something new along the way. Brewing on Lost Worlds system will be our first collaboration outside of our own brew house.

What’s surprised you about opening your own brewery?

We’re surprised at how much of a local brewery we’ve become in what’s known as a tourist town. Neighbors walk or ride their bikes to the taproom and we have plenty of regulars. Guests also love to visit on brew days because they get to see and smell what happens in our small space.

A New Collaboration: Meet Mad Mole Brewing