When I get in a slump, and who doesn't, I always go back to two recipes. One is for the very first beer I ever brewed, a Porter from Bader Brewing, the other is for a red ale that doesn't meet any style guidelines but everyone likes. Same way when changing equipment or ingredients. I know how those two beers should be, and they always give me a baseline to judge from.
Thanks
Ed (or Rusty)