I'd be interested to know what your favorite beers are and what breweries you think are declining. I really enjoy sampling beers when we visit the Puget Sound area every summer and it's good to have some local perspective. Can't wait to get back to some Block 15 Sticky Hands.
Which beer is it that you have on hand that you're not enjoying?
I find that Simcoe for bittering may be harsh and piney/"catty" but late in the boil it comes in with lush mango and a nice smooth dank-pot flavor and aroma. I like to bitter with Magnum or Warrior, depending on the brew and use a relatively small addition of Simcoe at about 20 and then hit the flameout and whirlpool with plenty of it in combination with Citra/Mosaic if I'm accentuating the fruit or Centennial/Columbus if I want to double down on the pot notes.