It seems a darker beer does well with about anything.

@Nature : For those lighter styles would you say it seems to call for a milder stick? I was guessing mild or mild-med.

I'm curious what "spicier" stick it is you've found pairs with an IPA. I'm at a loss for what "spicier" is.

For a while I was only drinking rye whiskey with a cigar. Can't seem to go wrong there either.