I don't know about you, but I won't be bar-crawling July 19. That's because I'll have a dizzying assortment of more than 250 beers from 41 breweries all in one convenient place.

The 13th annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival, in Broad Ripple, brings in brewers from all over the state and the Midwest to show off their top brews to thousands of beer enthusiasts.

The $35 ticket price -- $30 if you buy in advance -- grants you unlimited sampling, as well as access to live music, food and games, including keg toss and cornhole. Considering the damage a night at the bar usually can inflict on my wallet, $30 isn't such a horrible offer, especially when you take into account the selection. Ted Miller, a brewmaster at Brugge Brasserie and president of the Brewers of Indiana Guild, which is presenting the festival along with World Class Beverages, says the four-hour event is perfect for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of beers and brewing techniques.

"The idea is for us to introduce people to as large of a variety of beers possible," he says. "It's really an educational thing to try different types of beers and not just the ones you see on TV."

The roster of breweries includes 26 from Indiana and 15 from the rest of the Midwest. There's simply no space here to list them all, so basically if there's a brewery that you've heard of, it will probably be there, along with many more that you might be unfamiliar with.

And to show that, like snowflakes, no two beers are exactly the same, all the brewers will also be displaying their own version of an 80-shilling Scotch ale. Using a common set of ingredients, the brewers will add their own special touches and techniques.

Always a student of all things alcohol, I'm certainly looking forward to speaking with and learning from some of the finest brewers in the Midwest.

"This is just a super opportunity, not only to learn about beer itself, but to see how it's made and to get to know the players that make them," Miller says.

But with so many options available, how do you choose what to drink first?

Miller recommends starting with the lighter beers before moving to the darker ones that generally contain more alcohol. That way you can pace yourself so you get the most bang for your buck-- and avoid getting sloshed too early.

"Chill out and take it easy," he says. "We want to educate and make people appreciate beers, not get people obliterated."

13th Annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival

When: 3 to 7 p.m. July 19 (rain or shine).

Where: Opti Park, 820 E. 66th St. (just east of College Avenue in Broad Ripple).

Cost: $30 in advance, $35 at the gate, $8 for designated driver entry.

More information: (317) 856-6092 or www.brewersofindianaguild.com/fe...

- By Trevor Brown / Indy.com