I've mentioned elsewhere that most of the "cinnamon" sold in the US is actually the related cassia bark. This comes in sticks that are thick and hard, tightly curled and reddish all the way through. Its flavor is hot, and often harsh (think red hot candies.) What you probably want is true cinnamon, which is papery, loosely curled, and light brown/ tan in color, even lighter on the inside; it has the sweet, mild, complex cinnamon flavor you want, and is often found in Indian and Latin American groceries. One of its components is linalool, so it plays well with hops! Also at an Indian grocery you'll find fenugreek seed, which tastes so much more like maple than maple itself does, it is actually used to flavor pancake syrup.
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