Jan's Pretzel Dogs

Step 1
Heat beer in a saucepan over low heat until it reaches 110 degrees F (45 degrees C); pour into a bowl. Add sugar and 2 teaspoons kosher salt; sprinkle yeast on top and let stand for 5 minutes until yeast begins to foam.

Step 2
Place bread flour and butter in a bread machine. Add yeast mixture; select Dough cycle.

Step 3
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Beat egg yolk in a small bowl with 1 tablespoon water; set aside.

Step 4
Stir baking soda into 10 cups water in a large pot until dissolved; bring to a boil.

Step 5
Turn dough out onto a lightly-oiled surface; roll into a 10×20-inch rectangle. Slice dough into eighteen 1-inch wide strips; wrap each strip tightly around a hot dog in a spiral, pinching the edges to seal and leaving the ends open. About half an inch of hot dog should peek out of each end of the dough wrapper.

Step 6
Drop 2 or 3 dough-wrapped hot dogs into the boiling water for 30 seconds.

Step 7
Arrange boiled hot dogs on the prepared baking sheets. Brush each pretzel dog with egg yolk mixture; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup salt.

Step 8
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.