Cultivating collaboration: NM State Fair, Ex Novo team up to create Dusty Spur

It’s New Mexico State Fair time — which means it’s time for a beer.

The New Mexico State Fair and Ex Novo Brewing collaborated to present Dusty Spur — which is the official beer for the 2023 event.

“Nobody represents this industry better than Ex Novo,” says Dan Mourning, fair general manager. “Our partnership for a fair branded beer reflects our appreciation for a strong craft beer industry in New Mexico. We’re one of the only fairs in the country that can produce and brand a craft beer product like this, and at the end of the day, New Mexico consumers and fairgoers are the winners.”

Mourning says the New Mexico State Fair has been collaborating with New Mexico breweries over the last eight years to create an official beer.

The idea started nearly a decade ago when Mourning was talking to Chris Goblet, who was with the New Mexico Brewers Guild at the time.

“We wanted to collaborate with a brewery to create something new,” Mourning says. “We’re still the only fair in the country that co-brands with a brewery. It’s really a great way to showcase the industry.”

Dusty Spur, brewed by Ex Novo, is a light, crisp American Pilsner. It is brewed with crisp German noble hops and domestic American ingredients such as rice, corn and North American barley.

This is the first year the fair has partnered with Ex Novo, which was founded by Corrales native Joel Gregory.

Ex Novo opened its Corrales tap room in 2019 and recently moved its operations to New Mexico, where it plans to stay for the long haul.

To prove their commitment to the Land of Enchantment, Ex Novo is renovating and expanding the former Firestone Tires building at Central Avenue and Seventh Street in Downtown Albuquerque.

The 11,000 square-foot space will include a full-service taproom, restaurant, a large patio space, a bar and a café/deli.

“We’re so excited to get the chance to brew the official beer of the New Mexico State Fair this year,” said Gregory. “I believe we pulled out all the stops when it comes to creating a great beer with amazing co-branding. We’re proud of New Mexico and where it is headed and feel lucky to be a part of it.”

Mourning says the beer will be available statewide thanks to a partnership with Premier Distributing Company.

Dusty Spur will be available at Ex Novo Brewing, 4895 Corrales Road, in Corrales and retailers across the state beginning Aug. 14. Dusty Spur will also be available at the New Mexico State Fair, which runs Sept. 7-17, at Expo New Mexico.

“We’re making sure there’s a statewide distribution of the beer,” he says. “The New Mexico State Fair is New Mexico’s fair, and we want to have the official beer available to every corner of the state. These collaborations take time and working on this is a year-round endeavor.”