Denver Metro (and surrounding areas) for a week

Great list. That about does it/covers it.

Unrelated to beer, but of interest for great food: I see you're from Puerto Rico, there's a killer restaurant group here in Denver led/owned by a Puerto Rican fella — you may want to check out some of his restaurants as they're some of the best in the city; highlights: Morin, Bar Dough and Senor Bear.

 

For distilleries add in Bear Creek and The Block.

 

Since you are staying in Sloan's Lake, Hogshead seems like a no-brainer if you like English styles. I'd also bump a few more local breweries higher on your list: Cannonball Creek in Golden, River North and Vine Street in Denver, Four Noses in Broomfield, and maybe Finkel and Garf in Boulder.

Obviously you are trying to consider a large range of options, but just keep in mind that some of your suggested places are fairly far away from where you'll be staying in Denver (Grimm Brothers, Weldwerks/Wiley Roots, and Tap and Handle for instance are all 50-65 miles away). If you do want to consider that kind of driving distance you might want to try a trip into the mountain towns along I-70. You are in Colorado after all! This would bring you to a couple of excellent breweries like Outer Range brewing in Frisco, Westbound and Down in Idaho Springs, and maybe Broken Compass in Breckenridge. That time of year can be the "mud season" in the mountains but coming from Puerto Rico I think it would still be worthwhile for you.

Food could go on and on forever depending on what you are interested in. Are you trying to have some of the best food in Denver, or are you more hoping to emphasize the "beer list" part of the restaurant? If the latter, then you have some good ones already in Backcountry, Euclid Hall, Hops & Pie.

 

A super intense bar/brewery crawl up Tennyson Street between 38th and 45th if you're going to not drive. Call to Arms, Grateful Gnome, De Steeg, Empourium and Flyteco. Hit up Berkeley Untapped, Atomic Cowboy, Hops & Pie and Small Batch Liquors.

If you're going southeast, Comrade, Grapevine Wine and Liquors followed by the Bull & Bush would be a good combination as well

 

How long are you here for? 6 Months?

 

Glad you got the Joke. Hope you have a great time!!

 

You're missing Strange Craft Beer Company and Wits End Brewing both located togather on 13th and Zuni south of Mile High Stadium. Yhey are often overlooked but brew many great berrs in a wide variety of styles. Many medal winning beers as well.
Another overlooked but fairly new brewery is Burns Family Artisan Ales. The owner formerly brewed at Bells and Kuhnhenn and other places and brews some fantastic beer!

 

You asked about what breweries to cut off your short list to make room for some others I suggested, and that is by definition a subjective exercise. It also depends heavily on what style of beers you prefer most (so maybe mention that for more "targeted" suggestions).

I would say that Wynkoop/Great Divide/New Belguim are probably not in the top tier anymore for most. They all are very important from a historical perspective. Epic would not be at the top of my list UNLESS you love coffee beers since they are still near the top of the game there. I've never heard of Uhl's, and Westfax is still new so I haven't heard too much chatter on that front.

Of everything you listed Cerebral, Bierstadt, Comrade, and to a slightly lesser extent Crooked Stave/Trve/Black Project are discussed the most for DENVER breweries.

 

Not sure I'd say these are must visits in Denver on a week-long trip, but if you're going to Comrade and are a stout person, Copper Kettle is a less than 10-minute drive down the road and, IMO, their Mexican Chocolate Stout is top-notch--I believe it won a gold medal at GABF at some point? Not sure what their tap list will look like beginning of May but as of now they still have 2 versions of their barrel aged stout, Snowed In, which I think is also pretty badass. They're my neighborhood brewery and the bartenders are some of the nicest people around. Also, since you said your an aviation nut, Launch Pad Brewery is about 15 minutes from Copper Kettle in Aurora. They're a NASA themed brewery and do some pretty interesting stuff from time to time. If you go on a Sunday the owners usually tend bar and they're super friendly. Have fun!

 

Odell now has a spot in Denver.

 

Directly across the street from Block Distillery. And they tend to have at least a few beers that are tap room only.
You did mention you're primarily looking for bourbon/whiskey for spirits, but give some of the gins a try, you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

And if you do end up in Boulder, I always have to add my favorite brewery up there: Wild Woods.
On a sadder note, a great little distillery, Anvil, is closing up shop in Longmont. If you get a chance to stop in before they close, try their Swindler's Whiskey, it's actually a light whiskey aged in Oak Caribbean Rum Barrels giving a slight spice to it.
Their gin and rum are also pretty good.

 

The Frisco and Dillon area is gorgeous, along with the drive there. I've only been to Outer Range so can't really comment on the other breweries. If you want some beautiful sightseeing then I'd say it's worth it, but if you're just looking for exceptional beer on a week-long trip, you have a lot on your hands just in the Denver area. If I was heading out there, I'd probably spend a night in Dillon or Frisco. Dillon Dam is an awesome bar/brewery too. Beer's good but the restaurant itself, especially if you sit at the bar, is awesome. Also, make sure you check out Lake Dillon and take a ride on the road around the lake--incredibly beautiful. Keep in mind, depending on what you drive, that the ride there is all uphill, like 5,000 miles or so.