Building a Brand Around the World’s First “Healthy Beer”

In this episode of Recipe to Revenue, host Leah Messina talks with Dana Koller, founder of Kaktus Brewing Company. Dana shares his unique entrepreneurial journey from running pizza restaurants to launching an eclectic, sustainability-focused brewery. He explains the science behind brewing a clean, fortified lager that supports microbiome health and how creating an authentic, holistic experience for guests builds deep community loyalty.

Dana Koller grew up in the hospitality industry, fueling a lifelong passion for food, beverages, and community connection. After turning a two-car garage into Kaktus Brewing Company, he built a vibrant, award-winning venue in New Mexico and set his sights on an ambitious new goal: creating the world’s healthiest beer.

Watch or listen to learn more about:

• The science of brewing the Huali Lager, fortified with electrolytes, antioxidants, and iodine
  
• The operational playbook for building a sustainable, farm-to-table brewery aiming for zero-waste
• Why prioritizing community connection and authentic, in-person experiences is critical in a digital world
  
• The mechanics of transitioning a local craft beer from on-tap at a venue to a distributed CPG product
• How to cultivate team buy-in for sustainability and holistic business practices

Whether you are launching a CPG beverage or looking to build a deeply engaged local community around your brand, Dana breaks down the exact plays needed to build a purpose-driven and predictable revenue engine.