IPA Hops - Other uses?

Pale Ale
Extra Pale Ale
IPA
Black IPA
Rye PA
DIPA
Triple IPA
American Barley Wine
Hoppy Red
Imperial Red
Hoppy Brown (more along the lines of a brown pale ale)
India Brown Ale (more along the lines of an ipa)
Janet's Brown (fantastic recipe from Mike "Tasty" McDole)
Hoppy Saison
Hoppy Rye Saison
Hoppy American Wheat Ale

 

For the OP. I don't have a ton of experience, but I'd say a lot of the stereotypical American IPA hops are largely about volume. Sure grapefruit-forward hops may not be the best choice for a really chocolaty beer, but I am a fan of chocolate and orange, so there's probably potential for a brown/porter/stout with a modest Amarillo/Centennial late addition.

The stereotype exists because that's how they've been used (and used heavily and used well), but that doesn't mean that's the only way they can or should be used. Think about the flavors you've gotten from them. Scale them back, play with amounts, with the right balance and a grist with Munich, MO/GP, a dash of C120 and a little C40 or something, and a good estery British yeast and you might get close to something like the beer version of whole wheat toast with marmalade.

 

The Sword already has a bass player, which sucks for me. I'm plenty good enough to hang with those guys tho, and they're one of my favorite bands. My own band (a power trio) is plenty good too. Maybe for their next tour...

And homebrew as therapy? I'm all for it. Since I started homebrewing I feel like I've got the world's greatest remedy at my disposal. The whole process of making it and the enjoyment of sharing it and the joy of drinking it is the best medicine a person like me can take. I've even taken to dropping off an occasional homebrew to the lovely lady at the drive thru of the Mexican restaurant I frequent because I know donig so makes her happy.