Powder Monkey Group (PMG), a JP Jenkins-listed brewing and hospitality group, has acquired Maxim Brewery in County Durham for an undisclosed sum, marking its sixth acquisition this year.
Maxim, which was formed following the closure of Sunderland's Vaux Breweries in 1999, has been making beers in the village of Houghton Le Spring since 2006, such as Double Maxim, Samson, Lambtons and Swedish Blonde.
It is PMG's second addition in the region, following May's purchase of historic Seaham-based brewery Castle Eden, formerly owned by Whitbread and previously known as J Nimmo and Sons, which had lately become a specialist in contract brewing.
The Hampshire-based group was launched in 2023 to bring together several brewing and hospitality operations in the UK and Down Under, listed shares on JP Jenkins in March, and said it is planning to raise funds under a share subscription in early 2026.
Group CEO Andy Burdon said: "We're proud to have added the Maxim Brewery and established brands to the Powder Monkey portfolio. It has a fiercely loyal customer base, and we will continue in this tradition. Hailing from the North East, I am all too familiar with the strength of Maxim's brands."
Last week, the group appointed a new UK managing director after saying it had grown sixfold this year via "significant organic growth and acquisitions".
The group has stated that it has further targets and opportunities identified in Asia Pacific, the US and Europe.