Few questions...

[RobWalker]

I have a ginger ale fermented out downstairs, but I'm looking to add some flavour. It currently contains ginger and lemon juice flavour wise, so how would I go about adding the following ingredients - via steeping, secondary fermentation, etc?

cinnamon - sticks, ground?
chilli - only a small amount for a little burn
almonds
extra lemon/orange (rind?)
vanilla (pods/essence?)

any other flavour additions?

what about using a different priming sugar? i'm sweetening with sucrose and adding sugar for carbonation in bottles, I believe, so what sugar could I use for extra flavor or body? perhaps honey?

 

[Vance71975]

I have a ginger ale fermented out downstairs, but I'm looking to add some flavour. It currently contains ginger and lemon juice flavour wise, so how would I go about adding the following ingredients - via steeping, secondary fermentation, etc?

cinnamon - sticks, ground?
chilli - only a small amount for a little burn
almonds
extra lemon/orange (rind?)
vanilla (pods/essence?)

any other flavour additions?

what about using a different priming sugar? i'm sweetening with sucrose and adding sugar for carbonation in bottles, I believe, so what sugar could I use for extra flavor or body? perhaps honey?

The easiest way is to soak them in about 2 cups of Vodka and add it at bottling/kegging time Or to use extracts.

 

[RobWalker]

not bad ideas, but i can't help but think the flavour would be better if I used real ingredients and steeped them...hmm...

what about lactose for some extra body and a little sweetness too?

 

[wonderbread23]

i'm sweetening with sucrose and adding sugar for carbonation in bottles, I believe, so what sugar could I use for extra flavor or body? perhaps honey?

Sucrose will not sweeten anything. It will ferment out completely giving the opposite effect and drying out the beer. Honey will contribute a touch of flavor, but will general ferment out as well.

Maltodextrin will give you some body. Lactose will give you some sweetness. Be careful, because you can easily overdue both.

As for spices.... add everything you listed sounds like a hot mess. I'd stick to maybe 1-2 additions.