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The Butchers Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur |  | 2 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | | 3 |
| Marble - Lagonda IPA | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 6 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon |  | 4 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | | 2 |
| Abigale - Samphire | | 1 |
| Adnams - Old Ale | | 1 |
| Adnams - Broadside | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Tripel |  | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Critical Mass | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
22 Jan 2011 (Mick)
The Whitstable boys were in when we arrived but things soon cheered up!!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
15 Dec 2010 (ChrisE)
A typical lunchtime session for this pub, a group of people chatting about beer, and telling jokes.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Dark and hoppy easy drinking ale. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried |
13 Nov 2010 (Andrew)
Hearing that it was open all day I popped down about 3pm to buy some take-out. It was shut but there was a note pinned to the door saying that Martyn (the landlord) was at home watching the rugby and to phone him if you wanted a beer. So I phoned him. About 5 minutes later 3 of his regular customers (who also wanted a drink) came round with the key so we all went in. What can you say other than the legend that is the Butcher's Arms continues to grow.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Hophead on gravity at the Butchers Arms. Need to say anything else? |
| Adnams - Old Ale | 4.10 | | Hint of chocolate powder. Hint of sourness. Milky. Black coloured. I actually drank all of this before I started on the Hophead. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | 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 | |
|---|---|
| 239 |
| 424 |
| 92 |
| 14 |
 | - |
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 378 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.
Postcode: CT6 7HL