Breweries that "Have their shit together".

Breakside

 

That would be a long list.

 

Victory, Firestone Walker and Stone

 

REVOLUTION
Off Color

 

Sixpoint has great product and has got to be the king of customer service and market awareness.

New Glarus is so automatically great it is hard to believe - when your worst beer is Spotted Cow you are doing something right.

Stone is adventurous enough, and gets it right often enough, that they deserve a mention.

 

i really like the Beachwood BBQ branding. Modern Times I really enjoy. I think Ballast Point has some really tight branding now, too.

 

Victory, Bissell Bros, Sierra Nevada, Boulevard, Sixpoint, Prairie, HF, Treehouse, Trillium... I don't know... I could probably list like 10-20 more...

I included HF/Treehouse because their branding is basically just being elusive. People knock down doors to get their stuff... not many out there like it.

 

Troegs, Victory, Oskar Blues, and Founders come to mind

 

I think I defined it in my post. HTST means to me:

1) Find your thing. The biggest problem with Texas breweries right now is they don't find their thing; they throw a little bit of everything at the wall and see what sticks. I think, in general, a brewery that HTST has a style, a niche, a groove and gets very, very good at it.
2) Teach me. Throw me a curve. Make me think. Surprise me. Challenge me.
3) Don't sell me another damn blonde ale. Come up with something different, new, unique -- but don't be different just to be different. Have a meaning or purpose behind it. Don't just make a Mountain Dew commercial DIPA ("3XTR333333M3 H0PZ D00DZ!"), have those high-ass IBUs mean something and be properly balanced. Don't just throw the fruit basket in your sour, choose each of those fruits purposely. Don't just use rare ingredients to impress gullible hipsters ("Our new kolsch-style tripel sour bourbon-barrel aged hefeweizen has saffron, Kopi Luwak, and SNOZZBERRIES!"), make those rare ingredients make sense and have a context.
4) Don't be a pretentious dork. If I wanted one pretentious dork to control our industry, I'd have stayed in wine.

 

I wasn't referring to your post.

 

Maine Beer Co
Founders
Sierra Nevada
Lagunitas
Stone
Firestone Walker
Blvd.

In no specific order - most likely missed a few

 

Wicked Weed.

What they've done with expansion in such a short period of time is remarkable. Quantity and quality!

 

Here in PA, it's tough to argue with Victory and Troegs. Easily obtainable, well priced, and always well made. I generally try every new beer these two put out and you can always count on a quality effort.
Nationally, as others have mentioned I'd go with SN, Stone, and Lagunitas.

 

Sixpoint -- Excellent branding, product quality and consistency and they do connect with their consumers.

Lost Forty -- They have only been in business since Last December, and only distributing cans since April but, they came out the gate with excellent recipes, cool and and interesting branding and artwork, and a desire and plan to evolve and innovate. Few other breweries in the area are doing quite like this one in Little Rock, Arkansas. They are a fine example of how to get your shit together before you open your taps.

 

Others that pop to mind as having their stit together are:
Founders
Wiseacre
Great Raft
Bayou Teche
Oskar Blues
Schlafly
Good People
Cigar City
Boulevard
Roughtail
Coop Ale Works

 

they're the closest brewery to my house so i frequent them. they've stepped it up over the last year. seasonals are on point and Brewer's Reserve beers have been fantastic! the IPL is outstanding, the white was solid, and i strongly enjoyed the Saison. if only Hop-O-Lot-Amus was brought back or a dIPA was re-introduced. their IPA just isn't hoppy enough for me, it's good but just doesn't have an IPA feel to it. the IPL is great though

 

Founders
Lagunitas
Wicked Weed
Fonta Flora

These particular places have true vision and it shows in everything they produce.

 

Founders
Weyerbacher
Ommegang
Ballast Point
Firestone Walker

 

Sierra Nevada
Lagunitas
Dogfish Head

 

Hoppin Frog
Jackie Os
Brew Kettle