Dark Ipa Toucan Help

[Maz91379]

Been away from homebrew for awhile any advice on where to start something between an american ipa and dark/nut brown ale that tastes like christmas ? Want a strong resiny pine aroma not too bitter and maybe some citrusy/tropical fruit as well.
If anyone has had Epic Armageddon that's kind of what i'm going for but with more of a malt & nut & spicy christmas thing. Higher alcohol content (6-8%) would be preferable but not super important.

So what do i use as the toucan base a dark ale and a pale and then dry hop with something or other? Yeast?

 

[Tanga]

Check my dark ale thread, that should get you pretty close. I would boil up your spices in water with priming sugar and use it to prime to keep as much of their flavour as possible. Choose a chrismassy combo. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and (just a little) clove go well together. To up the alcohol / molasses flavour try adding 500g of dark brown sugar or golden syrup.

Adjust with the help of pros. Not sure which hop, someone will though.

 

[Maz91379]

Check my dark ale thread, that should get you pretty close. I would boil up your spices in water with priming sugar and use it to prime to keep as much of their flavour as possible. Choose a chrismassy combo. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and (just a little) clove go well together. To up the alcohol / molasses flavour try adding 500g of dark brown sugar or golden syrup.

Adjust with the help of pros. Not sure which hop, someone will though.

I always overdo spices though and i want to do a pumpkin ale after this one so basically asking what combination of hops will give me spicyness + piney

Would a hop tea of cluster,willamette,or liberty (depending on what my home brew store has on hand)

and then southern cross dry hopped get me around where i want?