THE STORY OF DANCING GRAIN

At Dancing Grain Farm Brewery, every pour tells the story of our land. Nestled on 300 acres in Moreau, NY, we’re more than just a brewery—we’re a field-to-glass experience rooted in generations of grain farming. As a New York State Grown & Certified producer, we meet the highest standards for environmental stewardship, proudly growing and brewing right here on our family farm. By uniting agriculture and craft, we’ve created a vertically integrated operation where we grown and brew our beer with care. The result? Exceptionally fresh, sustainable beers that honor our land, our heritage, and the spirit of craft.

DANCING GRAIN FOUNDER

RACHEL (CZUB) MCDERMOTT

Rachel McDermott is the founder of Dancing Grain Farm Brewery, a field-to-glass operation where every beer begins in the soil and is brewed with purpose. A Cornell graduate and second-generation farmer, Rachel left behind a successful career in investment banking to return to her family’s farm in Moreau, NY, with a vision: to merge production agriculture with craft brewing and create something truly rooted in place.

At Dancing Grain, Rachel has built a vertically integrated brewery that uses 100% New York State–grown ingredients—from malted barley grown on-site to fruit from nearby orchards like Bowman’s, to wild hops discovered on the farm. Even the yeast is propagated from mixed cultures developed from the land itself. The result is beer that doesn’t just showcase New York agriculture—it invests in it.

As a New York State Grown & Certified producer, Rachel partners with other certified growers to support a more sustainable, local supply chain. Her brewing philosophy is grounded in reciprocity: take care of the land, and the land takes care of you. In 2024 alone, her farm’s cover crops sequestered over 91,000 pounds of carbon—just one example of how responsible farming can reshape the future of craft beer.

Rachel’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to soil health, regional resilience, and redefining what it means to drink locally. When you raise a glass at Dancing Grain, you’re not just enjoying a farm-fresh pint—you’re part of a movement to make craft beer better.

Jim and Bob Czub Jr., together with their father, purchase their first farm in Schaghticoke, NY, a former dairy farm, and spend the first few years retrofitting the farmstead for their new grain farming operation.

In the mid 80’s Jim and Bob picked up a lease in Moreau, NY for 230 acres of farmland. Decades later, this farm would be offered to the brothers for sale and becomes the home for Dancing Grain Farm Brewery!

The Czub brothers successfully grow their grain operation to >2,500 acres of corn, soybeans, hay and straw, before a tornado demolishes their Schaghticoke farm and base for all operations. End 20th century.

The Czub brothers reinvested in their home farm, expanding grain handling capacity and shifting toward value-added agriculture. They began milling and delivering grain directly to dairy farms for on-site feeding—moving away from the traditional export model.

Rachel McDermott (then Czub) began her career as a credit analyst at Bank of America in Houston, working across the energy sector. Meanwhile, back in Saratoga County, development pressure and dairy industry consolidation caused the Czub brothers’ 2,500-acre leasehold to shrink rapidly.

Faced with a shrinking land base, the Czub brothers purchased the Moreau, NY farm—now home to Dancing Grain—to preserve their place in agriculture. The acquisition came with aging infrastructure and no added cash flow, including two tie-stall dairy barns, a shop, garage, and farmhouse. That same year, Rachel left her role as an Associate at Société Générale in NYC to join the family farm.

With all 308 acres under their ownership, the Czub’s invested in 115,000 feet of tile drainage to improve soil health and extend the growing season. Rachel launched a specialty grains program in partnership with local brewers and distillers, conducting on-farm trials from 2017 to 2021 to generate real-world data for malting barley, rye, and corn.

Rachel submits a Planned Development District proposal to the Town of Moreau, outlining a multi-use vision for the farm’s next generation—including the revitalization of abandoned farmstead buildings, the integration of renewable energy, and the development of agritourism opportunities.

After several iterations—and a full-term pregnancy—Dancing Grain Farm Brewery finally receives approval from the Planning Board. Just as the vision comes to life, the COVID-19 pandemic hits, bringing all site work and renovations to a sudden halt. Amid the uncertainty, Rachel and her husband, Sean, welcome their 10 lb., 2 oz. baby on April 20. Life feels overwhelming, but the future is full of promise.

As renovations begin to take shape, Dancing Grain Farm Brewery faces ongoing challenges—from labor shortages and supply chain disruptions to financing hurdles stemming from the pandemic. Undeterred, Rachel and Sean go all in: they purchase a camper and move their baby, dog, horses, and cats to Moreau, taking on a full farmhouse renovation, shop rebuild, and brewery construction—nearly all with their own hands and hard work.

Rachel branches out to launch her own independently operated, 100% female-run grain farm. She invests in tractors and equipment, and implements a comprehensive conservation plan to build soil health and long-term fertility.

Dancing Grain welcomes Head Brewer Chris “Duffy” Dufrain, a seasoned brewer with deep roots in the craft beer world. After training at the American Brewer’s Guild, Duffy rose to Head Brewer at Shmaltz Brewing and continued in the role after its acquisition by SingleCut Beersmiths. Known for scaling small-batch recipes and brewing for major craft brands, Duffy brings exceptional skill and fresh energy to our brewhouse.

Dancing Grain Farm Brewery is certified through the New York State Grown & Certified (NYS G&C) program for both its grain operation and six flagship brews—meeting rigorous environmental and sustainability standards set by NYSDAM. The farm operates under a Tier 3 Agricultural Environmental Management Plan and a 5-year Conservation Stewardship Program, with annual audits ensuring continued compliance.

Dancing Grain Farm Brewery is officially recognized by New York State as a 100% female-owned farm and brewery and proudly participates in the NYS Grown & Certified program. Through this program, several grant applications have been submitted to support the continued development of on-site facilities, sustainable agriculture practices, and expanded production of NYS G&C-certified products.

Thanks to prior support, an immersive farm tour launches in May 2025, offering visitors a hands-on look at the crops grown and how they shape each beer.

PRESENT DAY

It all starts with the land. At Dancing Grain, we grow with purpose—nourishing soil, protecting water, and brewing beer that reflects the place it comes from. But we’re more than a brewery. We’re a gathering place, with live music, open fields, space for kids to play, and dogs to roam. From farm tours to Sunflower Fest, there’s always something blooming. And we’re just getting started.