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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) |  | 3 |
| Dark Star - Original | | 3 |
| Dark Star - Tripel | | 3 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Larkspur | | 2 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 3 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB |  | 1 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | | 1 |
| Adnams - Old Ale |  | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Conservation Bitter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
13 Nov 2010 (Brian)
Note to self : it takes 43 mins from Aylesham raliway station to the Butcher's front door, so it's not the other side of the world. Few people in on a Saturday lunch, including a bloke having trouble with his mobile phone and the latch on the door.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Excellent dark beer. Incredible taste for the strength, nice sweet floral finish. |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | | Really good strong dark bitter. |
| Adnams - Old Ale | 4.10 | | Came on while I was there. Really good old ale. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top | 4.10 | | On the board as "Gavin's ale" - something to do with hair colour! Not like the other Old Dairy beers that I've had. Dark brown, caramel taste, slightly meaty flavour. Good but I prefer the Gold Top. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | First time ever that I've been in a pub serving Hop Head and not had it, but I had to get the bus back to Canterbury! |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | Not Tried | Just went before I could get my hands on it. |
13 Nov 2010 (Ken)
Among items on the agenda in the couple of hours I was here today were:- Does a beer's specific gravity determine how heavy the taste is? How tall Billy Connolly is, and where he lives; the excellent performance of England against a XV from one of the colonies; how you can't get into Australia nowadays with a criminal conviction and how much things have changed since the old days; introducing opera glasses to Glaswegians and what they'll make of them, and many more. Oh. And if you also know the name of the gorilla in Not the Nine o'Clock News, what the collective noun for a group of gorillas is, and how it came about, then maybe you're too clever for this Micro Pub and won't appreciate the finest beer and banter in the world.
But sadly I had to leave too soon.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | | Superb as usual. Nuff said. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | |
15 Oct 2010 (KB)
What a variety of people and topics discussed in this pub. All makes for the super atmosphere and fountain of learning. Tonights discussions included age - feet - toothache - electrical generation - lack of hair - what time Glyn the roof had to be home and why - pie making and we even had someone doing card tricks for us. It should be called a variety pub. It all makes for an interesting evening as ever with good beer
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | haven't tried this one for somewhile but as good as it always was and served at its best |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | always a good session beer and, in this pub, served at its best |
08 Oct 2010 (Andrew)
Having finished grouting a new patio I needed a treat. The bus to Herne was full of German Tourists out for a day in Canterbury. At the Butcher's the door was open (as it was a surprisingly warm day). Only 2 other customers in who seemed to be drinking jugs of the Gold Top. Spent a very pleasant hour or so talking to Martyn about all the different barrels of beer he's got stashed away.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | 5.00 | | Superb condition. Black with a dense white head. Slightly milky, thick in the mouth, powdery with a hint of roastedtoasted malt. It was so drinkable and I wouldn't have guessed that it was 5%. |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Conservation Bitter | 4.10 | | In excellent condition. A brown, slightly sweet, easy drinking bitter. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Larkspur | 5.20 | Not Tried |
25 Sep 2010 (Mick)
Mostly locals tonight, good banter as always in this tiny pub. Beer choice is like a mini beerfest!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Tripel | 8.50 | | Superb, if I knew it was going to be this good I would have tried it earlier in the evening. I would never have guessed it was 8.5%. Beautiful aroma and stunning rich taste. Another great beer from my favourite brewer. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Wonderful stuff,Dark with lots of malt but balanced by lots of hops |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | | Nice, in excellent condition, good malt and some hops. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried |
18 Sep 2010 (Mick)
Mrs Miggins and her group were in when we arrived at 6pm, magic, not only the best beers but also the best pork pie anywhere. Lots of locals and some new folk in. wonderful atmosphere. Good to see Ken, Simon and Glynn again.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | | Superb, rich malt and mellow hops |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Good pint of this yeasty pungent aroma bitter |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | | Took 2 litres home, drinking it now, wow, so hoppy yet so smooth, like Dark Star hophead on steroids. Long long finish |
| 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 | |
| Dark Star - Tripel | 8.50 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2010 (Mick)
Back where I belong.Called in for a takeaway, first in but soon joined by some of the regulars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Stunning, unmistakably Harveys. I defy anyone to find a better pint of this anywhere. Served on gravity it is divine. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | had a sip of Rose's, perfect hops and super aroma. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | Not Tried |
03 Sep 2010 (Glyn)
Happy birthday to Martyn and many thanks to Jo for the nibbles. What a great night, cannot remember who was there, things are a bit hazy. K.B.(64) has emerged from his summer hibernation and continued where he left off!! Beer as ever Excellent, I wish I could have Gold Top delivered to my door.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | 4.30 | | I think most people were drinking this at some stage or other so it had to be good.In fact even with my poor sense of smell I was able to detect a lot of grapefruit, luvly!! |
02 Sep 2010 (Ian)
Great evening chatting about beer, boats, jet skis, schools and gently crashing cars into the central reservation. The Old Dairy Gold Top seemed to be the most popular beer, but I must thank Martyn for putting on both the Thornbridge Larkspur and the Dark Star Trippel, both of which were stunning and stopped me from drinking my beloved Hophead.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Tripel | 8.50 | | I can't think of a UK beer I have enjoyed more than this one, this year. I fell immediately in love with the Belgian estery rose petal, ripe banana aroma, the solid Dark Star drinkability and the big hoppy kick you in the face finish. Utterly brilliant and in perfect condition. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Larkspur | 5.20 | | Citra hops all over this. Belies it's ABV and was just so drinkable and the hops so interesting and tasty and enjoyable. |
02 Sep 2010 (Andrew)
I've been to a lot of pubs and none of them are anything like the Butcher's. There's no bar; no food (other than pickled onions); only one room (that's tiny) and just brilliant beer. I was here for 1 hour with Ian. It was superb. Beer quality was just great and the atmosphere was perfect. Best pub in Kent? For me, yes.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | I can't be bothered to write anything about this other than it's the best beer in terms of condition and quality that I can get. |
| Dark Star - Tripel | 8.50 | | Now Belgium sipping beers really are not my thing. However, the condition on this was just perfect. The Belgium yeast flavours dominated and I could see myself sitting in some hilltop Belgium bar with dark lighting drinking this. It's an excellent beer. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Larkspur | 5.20 | | The condition was excellent. Pale gold. Nice raspberry hop with no cloyingness that 5% plus beers often have. Getting to the end of the pint and it became eminently drinkable in a session sense. Short lived finish I felt but nice and rounded citrus/raspberry hop. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | 4.30 | 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