Drink beer, do good: Find out how

Joel Gregory knew when he launched Ex Novo Brewing Company last year in Downtown Albuquerque that it could be a risk luring people to an area more known for crime and homelessness than trendy bars. Investing about $5 million to renovate the old Firestone Tire building at 7th Street and Central Ave., the choice of location was nothing short of pioneering, leading the way to reinvigorate a blighted area of the city’s center. Having grown up in the greater Albuquerque area, Gregory’s vision was as much to generate vibrancy in the heart of Albuquerque as it was to grow his own business.

Ex Novo may be new to Central Ave. but the brewery by name is more than a decade old. It started as the first nonprofit brewery in the country, launching in Portland, Oregon and donating 100% of its profits to charities. That example has inspired breweries across the country, including many locally, to convene and drink for greater causes. Gregory brought the original Ex Novo back to his hometown of Corrales in 2019, with a brewery, taproom and beer garden.

Gregory grew up in Corrales before he and his wife, fresh out of college and seeking adventure, relocated to Portland. He started a series of unfulfilling engineering jobs, only to find himself increasingly drawn to the nascent craft brewing community. Something about brewing different recipes of beer to find good fits and win approval among the community appealed to Gregory.

He decided to quit his day job to open Ex Novo, which means “from scratch” in Latin. The brewery flourished, and Gregory soon opened a second Oregon location. However, it wasn’t long before home was calling. “All our siblings were moving back, and we didn’t want to miss out,” he says.

So, he took another leap and returned home. The Covid pandemic led to the sale of the two Oregon locations in 2023, and only by the grace of a supportive community and Ex Novo’s ability to can its craft beers did the brewery in Corrales survive.

The Ex Novo brand went on to garner statewide attention when it partnered with the New Mexico State Fair to produce limited edition brews in specially-designed cans in 2023 and 2024. Not only was it an honor to have been exclusively chosen to develop the official State Fair beer, but it also enabled Gregory to highlight the respect he, his family and staff have for New Mexico and its culture.

Gregory’s latest extension of that pride was the 2024 opening of Ex Novo’s 11,000-square-foot Downtown Albuquerque location, which includes a patio and restaurant. Ex Novo also gave back over $175,000 to the community along the way.

“I love that almost every week, someone comes up to me at the downtown location and tells me they haven’t been downtown in years, sometimes in decades, but coming to try Ex Novo brought them back,” Gregory says.

For more information about Ex Novo's community impact, locations and offerings, visit exnovobrew.com.