What happens when a successful cidery owner enters the THC beverage game?

In this episode of The Free Spirits Podcast, we talk with Adam Ruhland—founder of both Wild State Cider and Birdie—about what it really takes to build a cannabis beverage brand from the ground up. From operational advantages to branding decisions, R&D challenges to distribution strategy, Adam walks us through his no-BS approach to launching Birdie in a complex, competitive space.

We get into:

• The moment he realized the cannabis beverage market couldn’t be ignored

• How his cidery’s infrastructure created a springboard for Birdie

• What it means to build a truly clean-label product with shelf stability

• The push and pull of brand design for non-stoner consumers

• Why he’s cautiously optimistic about DTC—and what makes it hard to scale

• How he thinks about exits, cash flow, and building smart, sustainable value

Whether you’re an operator, a founder, or just fascinated by the infused beverage space—this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro and welcome

00:44 – Why Adam launched Birdie after Wild State Cider

02:10 – The tipping point: seeing the category take off

03:18 – How cidery operations made Birdie possible

04:48 – Clean-label decisions and ingredient transparency

05:55 – The Birdie brand: design, tone, and shelf presence

08:53 – Using the taproom for consumer feedback

09:57 – R&D lessons: emulsions, shelf life, and flavor fatigue

13:32 – Real-world operational advantages from vertical integration

16:15 – Educating consumers in a limited-marketing category

19:46 – DTC hesitation and Shopify expansion

22:12 – Distribution strategy: wholesalers, direct, and taproom

23:47 – Expansion into new states and demand forecasting

29:15 – Choosing the right distribution partners (not just beer networks)

31:18 – The real goal: build something valuable, not just viral

34:10 – Where to buy Birdie and closing thoughts

💻 Try Birdie: https://drinkabirdie.com

📍Available in MN, WI, TN, and across the Southeast

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