Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels

1 cup milk
1 package yeast
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 1/4 flour
10 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup baking soda
2 tbsp coarse salt

Warm the milk in a saucepan until it is 110*. Add yeast, let sit for 2 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and 1 cup flour. Mix 2 tbsp of butter. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour and the salt to make a sticky dough. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until smooth, about 5 minutes. Shape into a ball, place in a lightly greased bowl and cover. Let rise for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450*. Punch the dough to deflate it, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll and stretch each piece with the palm of your hand into a 30 inch rope. holding the ends and slapping the middle of the rope on the counter as you stretch it. Form each rope into a pretzel shape.
Dissolve the baking soda in 3 cups warm water in a shallow baking dish. Gently dip each pretzel in the soda solution. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Melt the rest of the butter in a shallow dish. Dip the hot pretzels in the butter turning to coat.