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The Butchers Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Marble - Lagonda IPA |  | 1 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 5 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 |  | 2 |
| Abigale - Samphire | | 1 |
| Adnams - Mild | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 2 |
| Adnams - Broadside | | 4 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | | 4 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | | 3 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Festival |  | 1 |
| Dark Star - Tripel | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | Oh 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 - Mild | 3.20 | | This 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 - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Festival | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | Not Tried |
06 Apr 2011 (Blair)
Gorgeous, sunny day so we decided to hike it over to the butchers. Great line-up, great atmosphere. awesome.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | The perfect porter, end of. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Just the beer to coolf off after the stroll here. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | | Still a gorgeous beer, not as dark as I remember. |
| Adnams - Mild | 3.20 | | I really like this beer and I like the fact it's only 3.2% even more! |
| Dark Star - Festival | 5.00 | | Not my favourite dark star beer but still a jolly good pint. |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Woohoo! |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | | Lovejoy again popped into my mind. Bit of Tinker too. Clearly an evocative beer. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | | A Kent classic. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Festival | 5.00 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Really nice, a top quality bitter, malt and hops, in the peak of condition. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | 4.50 | | Super, rich malt and chocolate with a tart balance. |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | 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 |
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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Compared 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. 5 | 4.40 | | I 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 - Kipling | 5.20 | | The right balance of Nelson Sauvin hops on this. |
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'.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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....
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
About The Butchers Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 241 |
| 432 |
| 95 |
 | 15 |
 | - |
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 385 times, seen 166 different beers and tried 136 of them.
Postcode: CT6 7HL