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The Butchers Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Original |  | 3 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 5 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Tripel | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 2 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top |  | 2 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 3 |
| Adnams - Old Ale | | 2 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | | 2 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top |  | 2 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Conservation Bitter | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Larkspur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Critical Mass | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
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 |
About The Butchers Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 241 |
| 430 |
| 93 |
| 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. Cash only accepted, no card payment facility.
We have visited this pub 382 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.
Postcode: CT6 7HL