The Butchers Arms (Free House)
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Visits Details
25 Feb 2011 (Ken)
Have you seen all the recent international acclaim about this award winning pub? I understand it's no longer just a great pub but apparently it's now a 'destination' pub. Which is good in a way because when you get there you know you were meant to be there. But that's enough philosophy for one day. The company was good, the beer was great and the banter was up to its usual standard. All that was missing was the presence of the world famous number one google search,'a fat local called simon'.
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 |  | |
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 |  | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 |  | A dark malty beer full of warming flavours. |
25 Feb 2011 (Andrew)
Is there any point in making a comment about the Butchers Arms given the national press coverage recently? Well probably not but I'm going to anyway. Not having much time tonight I banged them back kind of sharpish which is actually the best way. Met Ian as planned and sat drinking a varying assortment of top quality beers. Got the bus home with Glyn-the-Roof and talked about hockey, beer, and why Martyn's boozer's probably the best there is. All in all a top quality night out.
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 |  | I once stayed in a hotel in East Anglia that had a stable bar that served Broadside. I got cained. Have very fond memories of Broadside and this half brought it all back. I am now going to watch some Lovejoy on Youtube to get back in that grove, man. |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 |  | Good stuff. Very fragrant, lots of grapefruit, very nice. |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 |  | A brown bitter. Excellent, fruity, malty bitter. |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 |  | Milky with a slightly tart/sour edge to it and some roasted malt. |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
24 Feb 2011 (Mick)
Typical Butchers evening, a dozen or so locals in and all joining in the chatter, splendid atmosphere and it seems a regular customer has a new nickname....
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 |  | Perhaps Adnams finest beer rich with good malt and depth of flavour, nice long finish. |
Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
23 Feb 2011 (Blair)
Nearly a year since my last visit I think, felt like weeks once I was here. Whatever you do, do not try the pepper sauce named after Satan it is not a pleasant experience.
Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 |  | Yup as good as ever. |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 |  | Fantastic fruity and hoppy strong bitter. |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 |  | Fantastic beer, I feel bad for not giving it a 5. Very dark brown bitter, toffee and chocolate I really could have drank this all night. |
Dark Star - Tripel | 8.50 |  | Still not really my kind of beer, but good nonetheless. |
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 | Not Tried | |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
05 Feb 2011 (Ian)
Met up with Mes and Sim from Ratebeer and Alex from the 4.20 Bar in Rome, here. Brilliant afternoon as ever with Martyn in good form advising Alex on the art of preparing and serving cask conditioned ale.
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 |  | Slightly salty, Christmas cake, molasses, Oloroso sherry. Alex suggested having this with celery which would work well I think. |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 |  | Perfect as far as I am concerned |
Marble - Lagonda IPA | 5.00 |  | Really surprised by this. I've had it a couple of times before and not been that impressed, but the NZ hops on this were outstanding. As was the condition. |
Abigale - Samphire | 4.10 |  | I like this bitter. The aroma is so inviting and I do like the slightly biscuity malts on the finish. |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
22 Jan 2011 (Mick)
The Whitstable boys were in when we arrived but things soon cheered up!!
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 |  | WOW! super beer wonderful hops and citrus, excellent finish. |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples | 4.00 |  | Wonderful pint, fresh with delicate toffee and a balanced hop finish |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
18 Jan 2011 (Mick)
Rosemary and I were first in tonight, had a chat about my birthday evening here on Saturday. Irish Ken came in just before we left.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 |  | Had a sip of Rosemary's, crisp hoppy and very refreshing, a super pale bitter. |
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 |  | Very nice, dark and rich, malty without being sweet, hops coming through and a long finish. |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Old Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
08 Jan 2011 (Mick)
Called in for quick lunchtime pint, 10 people in at one point which means the place was half full!
Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 |  | I love this beer, dark as a stout but drinks like a bitter, good hops and a super finish, superb. |
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
07 Jan 2011 (Ian)
Brilliant evening. OK so I haven't been for a few months, but it remains a great place for a chat about anything you like, some wonderful beer and a general feeling of intense wellbeing. Martyn as ever was on sparkling form.
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 |  | A half pint from 2004. Wow. Christmas cake, dry oloroso sherry, intense. No oxidisation at all even after 6 years. Possibly the best barley wine in the world found in this little pub. |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 |  | The Nelson Sauving hops were stunning. So drinkable in the mouth. Doesn't drink 5.2% ABV. Just wonderful. |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 |  | Loved the aroma on this, the hops just leap out at you. |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 |  | It was good, just a bit too much liquorice for me. |
07 Jan 2011 (Andrew)
There aren't many pubs that are this good. For me, pubs are about customers, landlords and beer and this pub is what I'd want in for all 3 categories. I turned-up at about 8pm and met Ian who'd been here since 6 and was well into some fantastic beer. I had a good chat with Martyn (the landlord) and I left knowing that if I found myself sitting at traffic lights next to him and his van that there was no point in trying to beat him off the lights! This is the best pub I know by a mile.
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 |  | 2004 vintage. As Martyn said there are only 16 bottles of this left in the world and he has all of them. Smoother than you could believe; raisins, walnut, molasses. |
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 |  | Out of this world good. |
Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 |  | Great beer. Dark, hoppy and with a caramel bite. Top stuff. |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 |  | Great dark beer. A session bitter and I necked it in about 10 minutes. |
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 |  | Excellent condition. Black, milky, slightly tart. A mild to me, a porter to Ian. Whatever, an excellent beer. |
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
Dark Star - Critical Mass | 7.80 | Not Tried | |
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | Had a sip of Ian's and it was superb. |
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