The Veil Brewing Co. Double Barrel STARVE: Exhibit H | Barleywine 18.5%

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

4.7Untappd

STARVE: Exhibit H from The Veil Brewing Co. is arguably the most ambitious barleywine ever produced by the celebrated Richmond, Virginia brewery. In the glass it pours a deep espresso-leather mahogany, viscous and slow-moving, crowned by a tan, compact head that lingers with remarkable persistence — no quick dissipation here, just a dignified, slow retreat that signals the seriousness of what lies beneath. On the nose, the aromatics are at once intense and surprisingly composed: vanilla caramel and Tootsie Roll lead immediately, followed by toasted coconut, dark molasses, and a whisper of cognac-soaked dried fruit that builds with every swirl.

The palate is where Exhibit H truly earns its legend status — shockingly controlled for 18.5% ABV, the body is full, almost viscous, coating the tongue with waves of caramelised sugar, black cherry cheesecake, oaky vanilla, and a honeyed bourbon character that never tips into burn. Bitterness is minimal, serving as a structural backbone rather than a flavour statement. The finish is extraordinarily long, warming gently with residual cognac fruit and dusty Willett oak. A once-in-a-generation cellaring candidate — equally revelatory fresh or after years of careful ageing. View this beer on [Untappd](https://untappd.com/b/the-veil-brewing-co-starve-exhibit-h/5822458).

Food Pairing

The Veil Double Barrel STARVE Exhibit H pairs magnificently with an aged Comté or Gruyère — the nutty, crystalline character of the cheese mirrors the barleywine’s caramelised oak and cognac depth. For a dessert pairing, a dark chocolate and salted caramel fondant is a natural companion: the bittersweet cocoa amplifies the molasses core while sea salt cuts the residual sweetness of this iconic the veil double barrel starve exhibit h.

The Veil Brewing Co. Double Barrel STARVE: Exhibit H