Natchez — The Polka music heard Saturday at the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race may have been a first, but the line at Blufftoberfest shows the German theme was welcome.

Blufftoberfest, an Oktoberfest-style event, opened for the first time Saturday to offer visitors a taste of German food and regional craft beers to quench their thirst.

Natchez Brewing Company’s Pat Miller said the idea began last year when he was at the race with Tin Roof Brewing Company’s Charles Caldwell. Both of them noticed there weren’t any craft beers around, and set out to change that.

“It kind of turned into something a little bit different,” Miller said.

Their idea proved to be so popular Blufftoberfest opened one hour early because people were lining up outside the area.

“It seems like the line’s stayed steady,” Caldwell said.

Once visitors stepped inside the gates, they could play games including a giant Jenga puzzle and a stein holding competition, won by holding a stein full of water in the air for the longest, and choose from seven different craft beers.

“I think there’s a craft beer for everybody,” Miller said.

One of the beers, like its namesake, was making its debut at the race.

Blufftoberfest Ale was made especially for the event, a result of a collaboration between five regional breweries: Natchez Brewing Company, Tin Roof Brewing Company, Crooked Letter Brewing Company, Chafunkta Brewing Company and Covington Brewhouse.

The recipe originated with the Natchez Brewing Company, and was then sent to the other breweries for comments so everyone had a say in the final product. Cathy Williamson from Meridian was one of the people who tried out the new brew after some deliberation.

“I tasted several, and it was the one I liked the best,” Williamson said.

Miller said the brew was a Märzen-style beer, a typical German-style festival beer.

“I think it’s great,” Williamson said. “It’s very mild, it has no bitter aftertaste.”

Chesney Petkovsek, who is originally from Natchez and came down from the University of Mississippi for the race, also tried the collaboration and liked it, as well as how the festival was offering craft beer.

“Microbrews are a fun local thing to experience,” Petkovsek said.

Miller said he hopes to turn the event into a yearly addition, one which will continue to offer visitors more choices in what they drink at the race.

“I think it’s been a great success,” Miller said. “I think people here wanted more choices, and we brought it to them.”