Recently appointed as Head Brewer at 71 Brewing, a craft brewery in Dundee, Bella Perez has worked exceptionally hard to make waves within the industry. From her days of packaging to now leading the team, she spoke to Brig about her experiences within the male-dominated field, along with her creation of beer that is helping to support other women in the industry.
Perez sits opposite me in 71 Brewing’s brightly lit meeting space. Mug in hand, she remarks that the coffee tastes worse from the machine in the office compared to one that sits in the actual brewery through the other side of the door. “You’d think it would be better through here,” she jokes.
Red rubber boots still on and hair tied up, she has taken time out of her busy day to come and speak to me. She loves what she does – but it wasn’t what she had planned to do.
Originally, Perez had gone to university to study chemical engineering. However, she had always been curious about brewing. “I had grown up near one of the Budweiser production facilities, and I was very interested in that.”
A California native, she attended UC Davis University, a large agricultural school with a viticulture and technology program. “As part of the food science department, they also had a pilot brewery and lab,” she says. Perez took this opportunity to try something new – taking an entry-level general education class in brewing. This was a turning point for the accomplished brewer.
Perez’s experience as an exchange student changed everything.
“I wasn’t enjoying my chemical engineering studies as much, and while I was in Nottingham as an exchange student, I drank cask ale with a British brewing lecturer for a month.” She smiles, shrugging her shoulders. “After that, I changed my major from chemical engineering to brewing science.”
With a new focus and vision, Perez got a job at the university research lab, where they had a pilot brewery. “I worked on industry projects like recipe development. I did some really interesting things, even creating a beer using waste products,” she says. Perez is glad she made the decision to switch courses. “I was a chemical engineer who didn’t want to make Windex, so I decided to make beer.”
A scholarship from Heriot-Watt University skyrocketed Perez’s career – all the while taking her to Edinburgh for an albeit colder brewing experience. She did her Masters in Brewing and Distilling in 2023, funded by the Michael James Jackson Foundation, which supports diversity in the brewing industry.
“I’m half Cuban, my dad was born in Cuba and moved to the U.S. when he was older.” With a fantastic opportunity ahead, Peraz put her scholarship to good use. “I already had an Undergraduate Degree in Brewing Science, so I decided the best use of the scholarship was to go to Heriot-Watt and get my Master’s in Brewing Science.”
Brewing in the UK proved quite different to US beer production
Perez tells me that customer tastes can vary greatly from country to country.
“Cask ale is popular here but is not a major part of beer consumption in the US.” The differing drinking cultures have a huge part to play in this, she explains. “In the UK, there’s a pub on every corner, but in the US, microbreweries tend to dominate.”
Drinking in microbreweries, or craft beer breweries, in the US is very different to the UK pub scene. Perez thinks that the US are ahead of the game in many aspects of brewing.
“The US is ahead in terms of innovation, with access to raw materials that makes it easier to experiment and innovate.” Many of these ideas slowly make their way to the UK. “Styles such as cold IPA, which gained popularity in the US in 2021, are only now catching on here.”
Brewing comes with many misconceptions from consumers
There are struggles for maintaining a sameness in every can or pint, Perez explains. “Unlike spirits like whisky, which require long aging periods, beer is much less forgiving. If you mess up in brewing, it’s noticeable within days, not years.”
Making beer is an intricate process that is often not appreciated due to the quick nature of the operation and the speed at which it is produced, Perez notes. “Brewing, especially craft brewing, is often seen as mass production due to the short timeline involved. But people don’t always realise how much detail goes into maintaining the quality of beer.”
The journey to Head Brewer was not an easy one for Perez
Working in a male-dominated industry, her brewing experience did not come without struggle. Having been involved in mentorship programmes and having to deal with the difficulties herself, she knows firsthand the challenges women face.
She believes that persistence is key to a successful career in brewing. “When I was starting, I didn’t get glamorous roles. I spent years working in packaging, not getting the recognition or opportunities I was qualified for, but perseverance pays off,” she says.
“Beyond working hard, you need to build a strong network. The industry is very collaborative. It’s crucial to connect with others in the field, ask questions, and use your network for job opportunities. Having a good word put in for you can help your resume stand out.”
In honour of International Women’s Day, 71 Brewing is sponsoring four seats for the WSET Beer Level 1 qualification course, helping women to gain skills within the industry. Perez created the specialty beer that will help fund the initiative. She wants female brewers to persevere, despite the challenges.
“Just wait. It sucks now, and sometimes it feels like you’re being passed over for no reason. Life isn’t always fair, but you’ll get there. It takes time. I love what I do now.” Perez looks up at me and smiles. “All the years of struggle were worth it.”
Perez looks forward to a bright future in brewing, creating new, innovative and unique beers and inspiring other women along the way.
Featured Image Credit: 71 Brewing
