Base malts: pils, pale ale, light munich, vienna, maris.
cara, roast, specialty: carared, cara 45, biscuit, melanoiden, carafa II, black patent, choco, cara munich II, brown malt , special b, roasted barley, crystal 60,80,120, dark wheat, flaked barley, flaked oats.
Something different? How about a Black ESB. MO, crystal 60, about 4oz of chocolate and then black patent for the remaining color adjustment. Willamette at 60 for 45 IBU, 3 oz of EKG in the whirlpool and 1-2 oz of Centennial for dry hops. S-04 fermented in the upper 60s.
Go for an indiscriminate hoppy lager. Pils plus a little munich or all pale ale and then hop it similar to an APA. Don’t be afraid to use those hops in an unusual combination. Cascade and Mt. Hood will work well in that style. You could also mix in some of those noble/noble-ish hops.