Only a true Michigan microbrewery would think to provide seminar-style tasting events for its die-hard fans, but that's exactly what Saugatuck Brewing Co. has done. The brewery regularly puts on the sort of tasting events that spotlight not only the brewery's own beers, but individual ingredients within them and how these ingredients give different styles their distinctive tastes.

"No other brewery in the area does the seminar format that we do," said Barry Johnson, brewmaster at Saugatuck Brewing Company.

The upcoming event, titled Understanding Beer Styles, is the final event of a series that highlights key ingredients such as barley and hops and illustrates how a subtle change in ingredients can make a huge difference in taste.

"Beer isn't just beer," Johnson said. "There are hundreds of styles to choose from, so choosing a beer can be overwhelming. By going to these events, you have a little bit more knowledge about what the different styles of beer are, what you like, and what you want to try; it gives you the chance to be more adventurous."

Being adventurous and discovering one's beer preference is especially important in Michigan, the land of a thousand microbrews.

Understanding Beer Styles Saugatuck Brewing Company, Douglas May 12, 7 p.m. $10 admission ($8 for Pint Club members) saugatuckbrewing.com, (269) 857-7222

"The fastest-growing segment of the alcohol market is craft beer; there are 100 different microbreweries in Michigan, which makes us number four in the U.S.," Johnson said.

This vast and growing array of beer diversity is a beer connoisseur's dream and a valuable learning opportunity for those not as knowledgeable of Michigan's resources.

"These tasting events give patrons the ability to go into a brewery, look at the list of beers, and know the background of all of the different styles," Johnson said.

But don't be shy if you're not a know-it-all quite yet; Johnson says many of the visitors who come are there to learn something new.

"We usually get more people who want to learn. We do get a fair amount of beer geeks who ask good questions and come in with a lot of knowledge, but about three-quarters of the people who come are there to learn."

Whether you're an established beer geek or you could use a refresher course in styles and specifics, Saugatuck Brewing Company's Understanding Beer Styles is an event designed to wet everyone's whistle with quality local beer, provide essential flavor knowledge and encourage great conversation.