sydney craft breweries, Wayward Brewing Company and Akasha Brewing Company, have been acquired by Powder Monkey Group, an independent hospitality collective with operations across the UK and Australia.
After facing a difficult 2024, with Wayward entering voluntary administration in January and Akasha in March, both companies managed to get back on their feet in the midst of a struggling craft brewing scene.
Akasha and Wayward joined forces in April 2025, uniting their operations while seeking further investment in the new business. Wayward’s production moved to Akasha’s site, and the partnership had both breweries sitting within Akasha’s corporate structure, while keeping the founders of each company involved.
Powder Monkey’s acquisition of the two breweries has brought Akasha and Wayward together with Southern Highlands Brewing Co. and Willie the Boatman, as well as the growing Powder Monkey brand in Australia and Asia.
Powder Monkey Group’s Australian based director, Ben Twomey, said the acquisition was about extending the international ‘buy and build’ value strategy, as well as creating a sizeable central brewing engine in Australia.