Sept. 21, 2026

From a Pub to Award Winning Independent Beer

Key Takeaways

Dean Baker co-founded Baker's Dozen Brewery in 2015 alongside his wife Jill, handling everything from brewing and cleaning to deliveries, sales, and marketing themselves.
Transitioning from running a tied pub to operating an independent brewery provided Dean with unique insights into the access-to-market struggles that small breweries face.
Focusing on consistently brewing great, accessible beer without constantly trying to reinvent the wheel has been at the core of Baker's Dozen's philosophy.
The brewery's award-winning beer, Undertow, showcases the successful use of Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops, contributing to their recognition at events like SIBA and BeerX.
Small independent breweries continue to navigate major industry hurdles, including rising operational costs, quieter pubs, and the complexities of the tied pub system.

Show Notes

Dean Baker, co-founder of Baker's Dozen Brewery, joins Martin to talk about the journey from running a pub to building a small independent brewery with his wife Jill.

Founded in 2015, Baker's Dozen is a five-barrel brewery where Dean and Jill do everything themselves, from brewing and cleaning to deliveries, sales and marketing. We chat about how the brewery started, the influence of Oakham and Brewster's, and why focusing on brewing consistently good beer has always been at the heart of Baker's Dozen.

Dean talks about some of the brewery's best-known beers, including Electric Landlady and award-winning Undertow, made with Citra and Nelson Sauvin. We also discuss SIBA awards, BeerX, why the brewery decided to focus on its core range, and how Dean's taste in beer has changed over the years.

The conversation also moves into some of the bigger challenges facing small independent breweries, including rising costs, quieter pubs and access to market. Having previously run a tied pub, Dean shares his experience of the tied pub system and the difficulties independent breweries face when trying to get their beer into more pubs.

And finally, Dean explains his love of the long-gone Carling Premier, talks about a previous Nitro IPA collaboration and why he thinks we should see more Nitro Lagers, Nitro IPAs and other nitro beers.

Could a Baker's Dozen Nitro Lager be on the way?

Shop Baker's Dozen Beer

https://www.bakersdozenbrewing.co.uk/

Baker's Dozen Socials

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bakersdozenbrewing/

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dean Baker?

Dean Baker is the co-founder of Baker's Dozen Brewery, an independent five-barrel brewery he runs with his wife Jill.

What are some of Baker's Dozen's best-known beers?

Some of their well-known brews include Electric Landlady and the award-winning Undertow, which is crafted with Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops.

What challenges do small independent breweries face according to Dean Baker?

Dean highlights several ongoing challenges, including rising operational costs, quieter pubs, and difficulties with market access and the tied pub system.