Palermo: Craft beer tasting with food samples at High Hops

High Hops brings together three parts of Palermo’s evening life: Sicilian food, craft beer and local art. Over two hours, you taste three beers in sequence, share a platter of Nebrodi cured meats and Sicilian cheeses, and see a pub decorated with dystopian murals and rotating exhibitions.

I like the clear progression from a low-fermentation beer to a hoppy pour and a more complex malty finish, and the pairing of local salumi and cheeses with fried gnocco gives the tasting a distinctly Sicilian table feel. One consideration: at $42 per person, this is a pub tasting rather than a broad food tour, and it is not suitable for children under 18 or people with food allergies.

Key points to know before you book

• Three beers follow a planned tasting sequence, from low fermentation to hoppy and then malty and complex.
• The food is local and shareable: expect Nebrodi cured meats, Sicilian cheeses and fried gnocco.
• High Hops is part of the evening’s appeal, with permanent dystopian murals and exhibitions by emerging artists.
• The group is capped at 10 people, so the guided format is likely to feel more conversational than a large tasting.
• Vegetarian options are available on request, but the activity is listed as unsuitable for people with food allergies.
• You’ll need to reach the pub yourself: transport is not included, though the venue is accessible by public transport.

A Palermo pub with more than beer on the walls

High Hops is a pub and kitchen in Palermo, and its art gives the tasting a stronger sense of place than a simple flight at a bar. The interior has a permanent display of dystopian murals by a Sicilian artist. A smaller room hosts temporary exhibitions, which may feature photography, painting or other work by emerging artists.

That art is worth noticing, but it is not a guided gallery visit. The main event is the beer and food, with the murals and exhibitions providing a setting to look around while you eat and drink. If you enjoy independent art spaces, this adds a welcome extra to an evening out. If you are coming mainly for an art tour, keep your expectations in check: no separate art tour is described.

Music is part of the atmosphere, too. The pub plays international music while you enjoy the tasting. That makes the outing feel like a social evening in a Palermo venue rather than a formal classroom session. The trade-off is that the sound and pub setting may not suit someone hoping for a quiet, highly technical lecture.

The pub is described as being in the heart of Palermo, and public transport serves the venue. You will need to arrange your own journey there and back, since transportation is not included. Check the starting time when booking, and allow time to get to the pub without rushing.

Three beers, from a gentle start to a malty finish

The tasting is designed to move through three different beer styles, rather than placing three unrelated glasses in front of you. It begins with a low-fermentation beer intended to prepare your palate. The description does not name the beer or specify its exact style, so you should not expect a particular lager or a set flavour profile. Instead, think of this first pour as the gentler opening to the tasting.

Next comes a hoppy beer, served alongside the food platter. Hops can bring bitterness and aroma, which gives this part of the tasting a useful contrast with the savory meats and cheeses. The pairing is the central moment of the activity: you can try the beer with different bites and notice how its character changes alongside salty, rich or creamy food.

The third beer is described as malty and more complex. That gives the tasting a fuller finish and a chance to compare how a beer’s balance can shift from hop-forward to malt-led. The guide explains the characteristics of each beer, and you can ask questions as you go. The tasting is guided, but no detailed brewing lesson or specific beer list is provided.

Staff members Giovanni and Manuel are named among the hosts. Their approach is described as friendly and clear, with conversation and humor part of the experience. One especially hands-on detail mentioned at the pub is learning how to pour beer. That may be included in the evening, but the activity’s core promise is a guided tasting, so treat the pouring lesson as a possible extra rather than a guaranteed step.

A small group limit of 10 helps this format. You have a better chance to hear the explanations and ask a question than you might in a large group, though the experience is still a social pub tasting, not a private lesson. If you are new to craft beer, the sequence and plain-language explanations should help you follow along without needing prior knowledge.

Nebrodi salumi, Sicilian cheeses and fried gnocco

The food is more than a token snack beside the beer. The platter features Nebrodi cured meats and Sicilian cheeses, served with fried gnocco. Nebrodi refers to the mountain area in northeastern Sicily, giving the cured meats a clear regional connection. The cheeses add another local element, while the fried gnocco provides a warm, filling partner for the tasting.

The platter is paired with the hoppy beer, so this is a chance to test combinations rather than simply eat between pours. Try a bite with the beer, then another on its own. You do not need to know formal tasting terms to notice whether the beer’s bitterness feels sharper, softer or more balanced alongside the food.

The food is served as a selection, not as a full dinner with multiple courses. If you arrive hungry, keep that distinction in mind. The provided details do not specify quantities or whether the platter is individual or shared, so do not count on it as a large meal. It is best understood as a substantial tasting accompaniment.

Vegetarian options are available if requested in advance. Since the standard platter includes cured meats, tell the organizer about dietary needs before the tasting. The activity is specifically listed as unsuitable for people with food allergies, so advance notice should not be treated as a guarantee that allergies can be accommodated.

What the two-hour format means for your evening

Two hours gives the guide time to explain the beers and lets you enjoy the food without turning the tasting into a quick sample stop. It can fit neatly into an evening in Palermo, especially if you want a relaxed activity centered on local products rather than a long excursion outside the city.

The exact timing of each pour is not specified. Expect a sequence that begins with the low-fermentation beer, moves to the food and hoppy beer, and ends with the more complex malty option. There is no stated walking component or off-site stop. You remain at High Hops, where the drinks, food, music and art make up the evening.

At $42 per person, the value depends on what you want from the outing. The price includes the guided tasting, three craft beers, salumi and cheeses, music entertainment and access to the pub’s art displays. You are paying for a hosted tasting and regional food pairing in a distinctive venue, not just three beers at a bar. For someone curious about Sicilian products and craft beer, that combination can make the price worthwhile.

It is less compelling if you want a full meal, a detailed tour of Palermo or a broad survey of Sicilian wine and food. The focus is narrow by design: three beers, a local platter and an informal pub atmosphere. That focus is a strength if beer is part of your interest, but it is worth knowing before you book.

Who will enjoy High Hops most

This is a good fit if you enjoy craft beer, want to try Sicilian cured meats and cheeses, or like finding local venues with a creative identity. It also works well as an evening activity when you want to sit down, eat and talk rather than spend the night moving between sights.

You do not need to be a beer expert. The tasting’s progression gives you a simple framework, and the guide explains each pour. If you already know your way around craft beer, you may appreciate the chance to compare the hoppy and malty styles with regional food. The exact beers are not specified, however, so this is not the right choice if you need to know the labels or styles in advance.

The music and art may suit you if you like a pub with a little personality. The permanent murals and temporary exhibitions give you something to look at beyond the tasting glasses. If you prefer a silent, formal tasting room, this venue’s social atmosphere may not be your preference.

The activity is for adults aged 18 and over. It is wheelchair accessible, and the small group is limited to 10 people. The venue can be reached by public transport, but getting there and back is your responsibility. Vegetarian food can be requested, while people with food allergies should choose another activity.

Should you book this Palermo tasting?

Book High Hops if you want a relaxed, two-hour introduction to craft beer with Sicilian salumi, cheeses and fried gnocco, and you like the idea of a pub decorated with local art. The strongest reasons to go are the deliberate three-beer sequence, the regional food pairing and the chance to spend an evening in a venue that feels more individual than a standard tasting counter.

Skip it if you want a full dinner, a broad food tour, or a quiet and highly technical beer class. At $42, it offers a focused tasting rather than a long list of inclusions. For an adult who enjoys beer and local food, that focus is the point.

FAQ

How long does the High Hops tasting last?

The activity lasts two hours.

How many beers will I taste?

The tasting includes three craft beers, progressing from a low-fermentation beer to a hoppy beer and a more complex, malty beer.

What food is included?

The tasting includes a platter of Nebrodi cured meats and Sicilian cheeses, served with fried gnocco.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes. Vegetarian options are available on request. Inform the organizer about dietary restrictions in advance.

Is the tasting suitable for children or people with food allergies?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18 or people with food allergies.

Is transport to High Hops included?

No. Transportation to and from the venue is not included. The venue is accessible by public transport.