There was a strong aroma of spearmint behind the bar and women wearing jaunty chapeaus in the taproom of Pittsburgh Brewing in East Deer on Saturday.
While it might be more than 400 miles from Churchill Downs, the distance didn’t stop Pittsburgh-area folks from gathering at the brewery to celebrate the Kentucky Derby — even if they weren’t going to be there for the main event.
Gary and Lynn Athey of Allegheny Township coordinated their attire for the watch party, which they have now attended for each of the three years that Pittsburgh Brewing has hosted it. His outfit included splashes of pink to match his wife’s.
“It’s the only place in our area that celebrates,” Lynn said. “It’s a little bit of the city close to home.”
They were there early in the afternoon but expected to watch the actual race at home that evening.
Gary said they came for “the glamour, pomp and pageantry.”
They also had a friendly bet on the race winner with their friends, John and Dana Arce of Buffalo Township.
“It’s what it’s about — enjoying the moment,” Gary said. “It takes a little bit of the race from Churchill Downs and brings it here.”
Pittsburgh Brewing was expecting about 350 for its watch party, up from 250 last year, said Alex Gonazalez, vice president of operations.
“An event like this draws a good crowd,” he said. “People like dressing up. We look for any reason to have a party.”
The spearmint was for mint juleps, the signature cocktail of the derby. While Churchill Downs serves more than 120,000 of them, Gonzalez estimated his bartenders would make between 1,000 and 1,200, using whiskey from the adjacent distillery.
Two horses from Bella Terra Stables were initially outside the brewery with the food trucks for guests to visit, but the day proved to be a bit too cold for them. It also meant people were more likely to get their grub from the trucks in the parking lot and head back inside to eat instead of lingering outdoors.
While soccer was being shown on the big screen early in the day, the other races ahead of the “Run for the Roses,” scheduled for 6:57 p.m., eventually lit up the television while the musical duo of Mark Anderson and Adam Quinn performed underneath it.
Ellen Mahler of Winfield made her ornate hat from ostrich feathers, placemats and headbands. After being at the brewery for St. Patrick’s Day last year, this was her first time there for the Kentucky Derby with her boyfriend, Jason Artman.
“I love the atmosphere they have,” she said. “We have a bunch of other family members coming to join us. The Kentucky Derby is my favorite holiday.”
Mahler said it was Artman’s aunt, Belinda Artman of Buffalo Township, who got her into the Derby.
“You have to teach these kids when they’re young what to appreciate,” Belinda said. “It’s on my bucket list to go to Churchill. Maybe next year.”
Friends Lindsey Braem of Lawrenceville and Rachel Sloan of Delmont were among the early arrivals. Sloan’s father, Wayne Sloan, worked at the brewery site when it was a PPG glass plant.
While he hasn’t returned since it became a brewery, Sloan said she has been there a few times. For Braem, it was her first visit.
“I think it’s such a fun thing to do,” Braem said.
“I loved that there were horses outside,” Sloan said.
They were not planning on being there for the Derby, saying they came more to dress up.
“Any time we can get dressed up and have a theme, we’re in,” Sloan said.
Sloan said she enhanced a pink hat she had to make it fancier.
“I’m going big next year, now that I see the others,” she said.
They weren’t totally disinterested in the race, itself.
“It’s always fun to pick a random horse and have someone to root for,” Braem said.