I recently tried putting chille flakes in the brine. I really liked it!
4 cups brown sugar, 3/4 cup salt, 3 cloves garlic, 1 cup real maple syrup, 4 cups water, onion powder, chille flakes.
48 hr brine. 24 hr dry in fridge on racks. 10 to 12 hr smoke in little chief ( not very hot)
Experiment...