My third annual Kentucky Derby party will be five weeks from today. Each weekend of prep races provides a countdown to the big event and, thankfully, the end of the semester - the last day of classes is Oaks Day. The Derby party has become an event that I anticipate as much as the big race itself. The Derby party was inaugurated in '07 (Street Sense) to keep me occupied while I waited anxiously for the big race. We will probably entertain 40 adults and 30 small children. An inflatable slide and moonbounce keep the kids happy. Adults imbibe mint juleps. This year we will supplement the traditional Derby cocktail with a homebrewed India Pale Ale. My colleague Nick McKinney is an amateur brewer and is conjuring up a Derby IPA for the occasion. Below are the ingredients. Should be tasty.