PubsandBeer

History: Home > The Butchers Arms

The Butchers Arms (Free House)

[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Canterbury Brewers - Loco IPAExceptional1
Adnams - Tally-HoExceptional1
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest AleExceptional1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Exceptional2
Kent - PorterExcellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSBExcellent1
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Easy RiderExcellent1
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldExcellent2
Hopdaemon - IncubusExcellent5
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPAExcellent2
Adnams - BroadsideExcellent3
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Pale RiderExcellent1
Ripple Steam - Classic IPAExcellent1
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark IslandGood2
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopNot Tried0
Ripple Steam - Winter AleNot Tried0
Ripple Steam - Original Best BitterNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde MildNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold TopNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

20 Jul 2012 (Pedro)
Afternoon
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Excellent
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60Excellent
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80Excellenttook home some
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
14 Jul 2012 (ChrisE)
Martyn was expecting us and opened early. The rest of our group got a taxi to Herne Bay at opening time whilst I stayed for another pint and enjoyed the peace and quiet for a while.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExcellentIn very good condition.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried
14 Jul 2012 (Mick)
Visit to my old local, the beer in excellent condition as all ways and nice to see so many people .
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExceptionalSuperb, a dark malty ale with a good hop balance.
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80ExcellentTasted Rosemary's super pale hoppy beer in super condition.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried
06 Jul 2012 (Ian)
It had been a long day. I'd spent 4 hours in a meeting in the afternoon at work. I came here and everything changed. It's all about the beer, the people, the atmosphere, the landlord, the company, new faces, old faces, talking about beer and anything else. Not seen Andrew in months, but it's like putting on your favourite shirt. Comfortable and makes you feel good. Anyway I had a great time, thanks Martyn.
BeerABVScoreNotes
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale11.50ExceptionalJust incredible. Walnuts, dry oloroso sherry. Sheer brilliance in a glass.
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA4.50ExcellentNow I will admit, I haven't had this on cask in months and months if not years. This was really really good. Perfect balance of peppery hop and malt. Full of character, fresh on, and just really excellent, every mouthfull
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00GoodMore peppery hoppy than malty fruity, but enjoyable.
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60AcceptableGood malty beer.
06 Jul 2012 (Andrew)
Dear Managing director of Dark Star, please, 1) put your Hop Head recipe back to what it was and, 2) give Martyn a ring so he'll take it back. Right, enough begging... Tonight I met Ian in the Butchers. It was an average night in the Butchers. Of course, "average" in the Butchers is AWESOME. It was nice to see that Glyn went home with the beer that was deemed suitable rather than what he wanted - what were you thinking Glyn! If you want superb beer quality, witty conversation, great atmosphere and a legendary landlord you should come here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA4.50ExcellentExcellent condition. Best Skrim I've had for years. Really good stuff.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00GoodNice. Green peppery hop, hint of caramel. Excellent condition
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80GoodNice refreshing floral golden beer. Excellent condition
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60Not Tried
05 May 2012 (Mick)
Good crowd of locals in. Very entertaining.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentLovely stuff, full bodied and rich, good malt with some hops.
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Easy Rider4.30ExcellentNice, but I think the Pale Rider is a tad better.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Adnams - Tally-Ho7.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
28 Apr 2012 (Mick)
Met here for the Ripple tour. Pub went from empty to full in 30 minutes.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Pale Rider5.20ExcellentDistinctive notes here, not a beer I'm familar with, very nice hops with fruity citrus.
Ripple Steam - Classic IPA4.50ExcellentGood stuff, nicely balanced.
08 Apr 2012 (Mick)
Gavin at the helm, quiet, and a good choice of beers. How I miss living near this pub, sigh.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExceptionalSuper pint of this dark bitter.
Adnams - Tally-Ho7.00ExceptionalHad a taste before deciding what to have as a take away,took this away, drinking it now Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Ripple Steam - Winter Ale5.00Not Tried
27 Mar 2012 (Mick)
Usual banter with the regulars and excellent beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Brewers - Loco IPA3.90ExceptionalPowerful hop presence in this deep gold ale, some malt but the hops are superb, maybe verging on harsh. But i could drink several of these.
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentUnmistakably Adnams, much malt with some hops.
Adnams - Tally-Ho7.00Not Tried
Kent - Porter5.50Not Tried
Ripple Steam - Original Best Bitter4.10Not Tried
23 Mar 2012 (Mick)
Been far to long since I was here. I travel all over the country but can't find beer as good as it is here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalStunning pint of this beer, perfect condition and the taste was superb.
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentGood pint of this dark ale, superb balance of malt and hops and in splendid condition.
Kent - Porter5.50ExcellentLovely black Porter roasted grains and coffee.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
Ripple Steam - Winter Ale5.00Not Tried

[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]

About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional241
Excellent430
Good93
Acceptable14
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Herne, Kent, CT6 7HL.

In the middle of Herne village in Herne Street, once the Canterbury Beer Shop selling beer straight from the cask. It is now a pub (with the same owner as before) and still does off-sales which is fantastic! Voted CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year in 2008 and East Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2009 (...and not surprisingly). Regarded universally as the first micropub, which has spawned many similar ventures in East Kent and throughout the UK. Real ales are kept on gravity dispense in a cold room to the right and you will view this when you walk through it to the unisex toilet at the rear. Displays a Micropub Association Certificate of Registration warranting, annually, that it adheres to the tenets and ethics of the Association's definition of a micropub. Since post-Covid re-opening in October 2021 now open 5-8 Tuesday to Friday only. The landlord and founder of the Micropub Association, Martyn Hillier, was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Years Honours list for services to Business and to Hospitality. Cash only accepted, no card payment facility.

We have visited this pub 382 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL