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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Exceptional4
Larkins - PorterExceptional4
Adnams - MildExcellent4
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - KiplingExcellent1
Larkins - TraditionalExcellent2
Adnams - BroadsideExcellent3
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent3
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Excellent2
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver TopExcellent1
Dark Star - FestivalGood1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Prince's AleGood1
Dark Star - Over The MoonNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

22 May 2011 (Ken)
Sunday lunch time. Spuds courtesy of Mrs Scotty. Delicious. Sunday Telegraph crossword clue. 'To egg on'.. 5 letters. Instant response from the floor. TOAST............ Only in the Butchers!!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Traditional3.40ExcellentFresh, bright and very more-ish. Everything you'd expect when Kent's finest brewer meets Kent's finest host.
21 May 2011 (Mick)
Two regulars in when we arrived, a good evening with much banter.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Traditional3.40ExcellentSmooth, excellent balance of malt and hops, hard to believe it's only 3.4%, Very drinkable.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentReliable beer from a reliable brewery, served in top condition, hoppy with good citrus notes.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Prince's Ale4.00GoodA pale hoppy beer, like hophead but a bit more rounded and smooth.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
14 May 2011 (Mick)
In early, a small group of regulars in tonight, much banter, a good evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentI like this, malty and rich but with just enough bitterness.
Adnams - Mild3.20ExcellentEverything a mild should be.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
12 Apr 2011 (Ken)
Beer and banter up to the mark as usual and a couple of pints of Larkin's Porter produced only the best quality tabbing.......Or so I seem to recall.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExceptionalPure nectar from the man reputed to talk to his hops to get the best out of them
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Excellent
08 Apr 2011 (Mick)
First in tonight, heard the Larkins was on, just time for a quick one but had to try the Adnams as well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExceptionalAndrew said it all really. Sublime.
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentSuper, possibly my desert island beer.
Adnams - Mild3.20ExcellentLooks like a mild, not sure it tastes like a mild, a touch of Over the Moon? To fruity for a Mild but very nice.
Dark Star - Festival5.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
08 Apr 2011 (Andrew)
Ah the Butchers Arms. Plenty of folk in, including Glynn and KB. Conversation was revolving around the fun you can have at a swimming pool without needing to necessarily be in the water.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExceptionalOh yes. The Daddy of Porters is back. Just stunningly good. Stunningly good. Initial flavours are fruity with hints of burnt perspex. The main body is milk powder, roasted malt, slightly sour, slightly acidic. The finish is of acrid milk. Just lovely.
Adnams - Mild3.20ExcellentThis had an intriguing taste to it that I couldn't quite put my finger on. My synaesthesia told me it was green. Why? I've no idea.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Festival5.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
06 Apr 2011 (Blair)
Gorgeous, sunny day so we decided to hike it over to the butchers. Great line-up, great atmosphere. awesome.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExceptionalThe perfect porter, end of.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentJust the beer to coolf off after the stroll here.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentStill a gorgeous beer, not as dark as I remember.
Adnams - Mild3.20ExcellentI really like this beer and I like the fact it's only 3.2% even more!
Dark Star - Festival5.00GoodNot my favourite dark star beer but still a jolly good pint.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Not Tried
02 Apr 2011 (Andrew)
A flying visit to pick up some take-out. It was busy with pork pies being consumed in large quantities. Convivial as always.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalWoohoo!
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentLovejoy again popped into my mind. Bit of Tinker too. Clearly an evocative beer.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentA Kent classic.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - Festival5.00Not Tried
26 Feb 2011 (Mick)
First in tonight but things soon picked up. To many to choose from tonight, not helped by knowing they would all be in excellent condition.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExcellentReally nice, a top quality bitter, malt and hops, in the peak of condition.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50ExcellentSuper, rich malt and chocolate with a tart balance.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
25 Feb 2011 (Ian)
Glad to see Martyn and the regulars who make the pub such a great place to go to finally getting the media recognition they all deserve. I had another great evening, sitting drinking great beer, chatting and meeting up with Andrew.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalCompared with the pint in the Dean Swift I had the following day, this was so much better. A beer I think that works better on gravity than on cask.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExcellentI love this beer. From the malty biscuit aroma, to the fullness in the mouth with more malt and the malty peppery hoppy finish.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20ExcellentThe right balance of Nelson Sauvin hops on this.

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About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional240
Excellent428
Good92
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.

We have visited this pub 380 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL