Priming with specialty malts

Is it possible to prime with specialty malts. I.E. Make just enough of a concentrated extraction to carbonate?

 

I would also say no. Why, out of curiosity, do you want to do so? If it's just to get the flavor, that would be accomplished by adding them during the mash (or steep, if you're brewing with extract).

 

I'm having trouble getting the balance of flavors that I want in a spiced beer, so I thought it might work yo adjust color and residual sweetness to some extent, kind of like dry hopping. I did a small experiment, by running steam from an espresso machine through the specialty malt to extract the flavors, then added back to about a liter. I'll see hat happens.

 

Very interesting and clever. Let us know how that turns out.

As for adjusting residual sweetness in a more general way, there are a few tried and true options. The first that comes to mind is adding lactose along with your priming sugar, which will add unfermentable sugars. I think maltodextrine works the same way, although I've never used it myself.

 

The taste worked out pretty well, but flat. Thanks for the tip on lactose.