The Brown Dog Brownie - Hobgoblin

April 27, 2005

The Big Dog Brownie
If you’re looking for the ultimate dessert, consider the Big Dog Brownie at the Side Door in Petoskey. This brownie is baked to perfect with M & Ms and served ala mode with chocolate sauce drizzled over the top (and they don’t scrimp on it!).
Located one block south of the M-119 & US 31 Junction in Petoskey, the Side Door is renowned for its award winning burgers. Besides the comfortable “feel like you’re at a friend’s house ambience,” they cook up a great Caesar salad, white chicken chili, three-cheese quesadillas, steak quesadillas, prime rib, and meatloaf, to name a few. The Side Door is open six days a week, serving lunch at 11 a.m., and dinner each evening; closed Sundays. -- By Peg Kuchin.


Hobgoblin
A couple of weeks ago I picked that “stranded on the deserted island beer.” Well my Hibernian buddy and Freshwater Lodge Manager ToddA McColl rang me and said “Hey what about getting stranded with Hobgoblin?” Okay, I can live with that choice.
Hobgoblin is the signature ale from the Wychwood Brewery in Witney, England (60 miles west of London). This delicious dark and strong ale has all the great characteristics of traditional English ales from centuries past, but was actually developed in 1988.
Hobgoblin was born out of a request from a Whitney resident who wanted a special beer served at his daughter’s wedding. Since too much was brewed for the wedding they took what was left to a local pub and it sold out that day. When pub owners called for more and asked for a name the brewmaster was looking out the window and saw a drawing of a hobgoblin on a wall and hence a name was born.
Hobgoblin is a powerful full-bodied copper red,
well-balanced brew. Strong in roasted malt with a moderate hoppy bitterness and slight fruity character that lasts through to the end. It pairs nicely with blackened salmon and traditional grilled foods. Try with lasagna and for dessert Hobgoblin pairs perfectly with German chocolate cake. Ask for it at Freshwater, Stella, Union or at your favorite beer shop. -- Rick Coates