Breaking barriers in brewing: Heriot-Watt graduate among Scotland’s leading female brewers

This International Women’s Day, Heriot-Watt University is celebrating the success of Bella Perez, a 2024 graduate of its MSc Brewing and Distilling programme. In less than two years, Bella has risen to become Head Brewer at 71 Brewing, joining a growing number of women working in the industry in Scotland.

Although modern beer production has long been dominated by men, historically, brewing was a woman’s responsibility. Beer was brewed in the home as a safe substitute for water. Bella’s appointment as Head Brewer is not only a personal milestone but is also part of brewing tradition:

“People are often surprised to meet a woman head brewer,” she said. “But women belong here. We always have. International Women’s Day is a reminder of how important visibility is—and why creating space for other women matters.”

Bella grew up in California. Childhood car journeys past the local Budweiser plant and the region’s thriving craft beer culture sparked her interest in brewing. In 2016, an international study trip confirmed her passion for fermentation science. This became her focus when she returned to UC Davis in California.

After nearly a decade working across the US—at MillerCoors in Colorado, craft breweries in California, and as a shift lead brewer in Oregon—she looked to further her progression in an industry where women remain underrepresented in senior production roles.

“I’d been working three jobs at one point and felt stuck,” she explained. “I loved brewing, but to move into upper management you need more than experience—you need technical proof of concept.”

That next step arrived through a scholarship from the Michael James Jackson Foundation, which supports brewers from underrepresented backgrounds. With a Cuban parent, Bella was eligible. The organisation funded her Master’s degree at Heriot-Watt University, home to one of the world’s most respected brewing and distilling programmes. Bella describes her time at Heriot-Watt as transformative.

“It made all the difference. The Master’s gave me the scientific foundation, the research skills and the professional credibility I needed. Combined with my experience, it opened doors that simply weren’t available to me before.”

Within months of graduating, she was appointed Head Brewer at 71 Brewing, a Dundee-based independent brewery known for innovation and global reach. Her role involves overseeing production, recipe development, quality, and sensory training for an international team - including seven Heriot‑Watt alumni.

Professor Dawn Maskell is head of the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University. She said: “Each year, more women choose to study brewing and distilling at Heriot‑Watt, and their presence in our classrooms and laboratories is changing the face of the sector.

“Seeing graduates like Bella move into senior production roles is a powerful reminder of why representation matters and why supporting women into technical leadership positions is so important for the industry’s future.”

Today, Bella is part of a growing cohort of women shaping Scotland’s brewing. She is the driving force behind this Sunday’s inaugural Cailleach Festival, Scotland’s first beer festival dedicated to showcasing women working in production roles from across the country.

By bringing together female leaders from breweries large and small, the festival aims to increase visibility, foster mentorship and challenge lingering assumptions about who makes beer.

“For young women entering the industry, seeing someone who looks like you in a senior role can be transformative,” Bella said. “Representation shapes possibility.”

Despite progress, Bella acknowledges the challenges women still face. Brewing remains physically demanding, technically complex and often male-dominated. “You need to be thick-skinned and creative.

“It’s hands-on, heavy lifting, long days. But if you like getting your hands dirty, starting with a list of raw ingredients and turning them into something you’ve made yourself, brewing is definitely for you.

“It’s incredibly rewarding.”

Bella is clear about the message she wants to share on International Women’s Day: “Don’t let the demographics of an industry tell you whether you belong. If you’re passionate, capable and determined, there is a place for you.

“Brewing needs more women. Science needs more women. Leadership needs more women.

“Progress is never accidental. It comes from women supporting women—and from institutions like Heriot-Watt believing in our potential.”

Heriot-Watt University’s internationally-recognised International Centre for Brewing and Distilling is a unique teaching & research facility. Follow this link to read how we are raising £35 million for our new Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling.