I’m a big fan of Hopfenstark, we’ve been lucky to get a lot of their stuff here in NYC.
I always feel Smuttynose never gets enough love. Solid brews all around, big batch and small batch, hardly a bad or even average beer in their line-up, save Hanami. Allagash is another one, one of my favorite brewers no doubt, a bit more hit and miss than Smuttynose but when they get it right they absolutely nail it.
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What everyone said.
Brooklyn. I’ve had a few stale bottles of their stuff in the past (it was not pretty), but when you find fresh bottles or draught, and try out more of their line to see what their high points of achievement they can reach - pretty good ’mainstream’ micro. The Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse, wow!  Recently the Lager on tap, and the Brown Ale, both really spot-on. Have a Local 1 to pop open very soon... and that liqueur-like Chocolate Stout, wow.
Just to add ONE of several! (Avery Lagunitas and others also seem to be better with freshness.)
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Lagunitas - Not everything is great but maybe best brewer for your dollar
Sierra Nevada
Smuttynose
Stone - Can’t get over how many Stone haters are out there
Sam Adams
Great Divide - although I agree some of their new stuff is average
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+1 on your +1
and +1 on everything you said (save Furthermore since I haven’t tried their stuff yet)
But I thought the Schell was worth mentioning. They make a couple of shitters here and there, but when they do what they do well I absolutely love them. I haven’t had a Pale Lager from them that isn’t leaps and bounds above the average micro Lager, not to mention BMC stuff. The Snowstorm is almost always interesting and tasty, what other craft brewery in America has tried their hand at a Weinachtsbier? When fresh their Bock beers are all delightful, and hilarious as it sounds now, Fire Brick was for me a big turning point in challenging my beer tastes (AKA I didn’t take lager seriously). All that said the brewery is absolutely gorgeous and anyone who finds themselves in the area should really take a visit.
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Agreed on visiting the Schell brewery. Never have personally, but I’ve heard it’s really a cool place to visit.
And regarding Furthermore, they have some really interesting and unique beers.
Knot Stock : a black pepper infused pale ale
Fatty Boombalatty: belgian ale similar to Surly Cynic but sweeter
Makeweight: another hoppy belgian ale with a touch of smoke
Oscura: a coffee based dark lager
They also do an cream ale with apples (Fallen Apple) which I haven’t tried yet.
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Without a doubt. Also agree with Lagunitas and a bunch of others.
Can "underappreciated" also mean "taken for granted"? If yes, then Anchor and North Coast.
Breweries known for stouts, ipas, and maybe one or two other styles now can seem boring to us as more and more styles become prominent.
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I am drinking Anchor Liberty today, and always go, ’how the hell do I forget this brewer?’
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Now I know what to put in the next box I send to you ... 
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Lagunitas
Brooklyn
Troegs
Big fan of cans so 21st
Fort Collins
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Oh, yep, totally agree. I forgot about those two 
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