LIKE and congrats on the ride! Brat and breze is the classic combo. You guys are killing me talking about the weisswurst. I never got the chance to make mine over the holidays...
Not sure if you guys know but I went through a pretzel phase some time ago and lye is actually used for the browning. Baking soda "kinda" works but lye is way better and the key. I got some food grade sodium hydroxide on
Amazon for like $10. Legit german pretzels are pretty dark.
https://www.saveur.com/worlds-best-pretzel/