Free Spirits: Insights on Functional Beverages

Building Functional Beverage Brands Through Creative Partnerships

06 Nov 2025

Audio

Description

What happens when a craft beer veteran brings creative collaboration into the functional beverage space?In this episode of Free Spirits, Lars Miller and David Gonzalez sit down with Spencer Ploessl, an independent creative consultant and advisor at CannaConnect, to talk about the origin and future of Coco Flow—a coconut water-based functional beverage born from a unique collaboration between CannaConnect and Back Channel Brewing.Spencer’s background spans two decades in craft beverage branding, sales, and distribution. Drawing on lessons from the beer industry—grain-to-glass education, collaboration brews, and taproom innovation—he now helps brands reimagine what’s possible in the adult beverage space.This episode dives into:How Coco Flow blends multiple functional ingredients like coconut water, pineapple, lemongrass, and sea salt for hydration and recoveryThe strategy behind building a beverage brand through grassroots marketing and collaboration, not paid mediaWhat it takes to align creative direction, formulation, and business operations across multiple partnersHow product launches in the functional drinks space differ from traditional beverage business modelsWhy scarcity, limited-edition drops, and experiential sampling are gaining traction in adult beverage launchesYou’ll also hear a candid discussion on formulation goals, flavor development, consumer education, and how non-traditional distribution models can still drive real demand.Whether you’re a beverage operator, brand builder, brewer, or marketer looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights into building functional drinks that cut through the noise.🎧 Listen now on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

13:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

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Free Spirits: Insights on Functional Beverages

Building Functional Beverage Brands Through Creative Partnerships

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

13:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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