Your Next Best Bite: The Hand Tossed Pretzel at Victory Brewing Company

Your Next Best Bite is a regular column featuring our recommendations for the most mouthwatering appetizer, entree or dessert that we’ve spotted in our area-wide restaurants.

Our Recommendation: Hand Tossed Pretzel

Where: Victory Brewing Company’s Brewpub, 420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown, victorybeer.com

While other kids were eating greasy potato chips, I always chose pretzels. You know, the hard, overly salty kind that came in sticks, tiny twists and nuggets. Then, in college I was introduced to the Philly soft pretzel: chewy and warm, long, kind of two loops I topped with bland yellow mustard out of a little ballpark-sized packet. Chased with a cheap beer, it was the taste of summer. Go Phillies!

But when I moved to Chester County, I had a life-changing experience: the Hand Tossed Pretzel at Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown. I chose it originally not for it’s Dusseldorf mustard and cheese sides, and not because it pairs perfectly with pretty much every unique Victory craft brew. I ordered it because in the old, smaller bar that had a more limited menu, there wasn’t a lot for this non-meat-eater to order.

I’m eternally grateful. And now I’m spoiled for pretzels forever.

Despite Victory’s now-extensive menu and creative specials, I always order the Pretzel first. If I’m going to be stuffed, it’s going to be because I chowed down on that freshly made, hot-hot-hot, mouth-watering app. It’s usually so hot when it comes out that I have to use a knife and fork to tear into it. I close my eyes, and take a deep breath. It smells toasty; I swear I can even smell the touch of salt.

Hubs is also a fan, but we have different ways of eating the Pretzel, which is made into a twist about as big as both my hands side-by-side. Hubs rips off a quarter of the beast and dips it in the Dusseldorf mustard only – lots of mustard. I, on the other hand, cut it into a zillion bite-sized pieces, dip it first into the mild white cheese sauce and then into the slightly tangy, definitely not sweet, mustard.

Hot. Firm on the outside with a softer texture on the inside. It’s that classic savory soft pretzel flavor, but oh-so-much better. Bite after delicious bite. A sip of beer, a bite. A sip of beer, a bite. It’s not even worth talking to me, as only one word is running through my mind: heavenly.

So the next time you grab a bite at Victory, take my advice and order the Pretzel with your favorite brewski. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, because the Pretzel takes no prisoners.

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