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The Butchers Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Tripel |  | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Larkspur | | 2 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Potbelly - Beijing Black | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 2 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%) |  | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 6 |
| Dark Star - Summer Solstice | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top |  | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Extra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Original | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Renaissance Ruby Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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 |
27 Aug 2010 (Ian)
Brilliant night as always in this pub, with really good banter and you always leave with this very warm feeling and a smile on your face. Amazing place really. Good mix of regulars in including Glyn the Roof, Vic, the Welsh Wizard, Andy the Onion and others.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Better here than virtually anywhere else. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Back to its very best. I chatted with a couple of guys about the intensity of flavour you get in this beer even though its only 3.8% ABV. Where do crows and rooks live? In a crockery. |
| Potbelly - Beijing Black | 4.40 | | Ever since having this at Nottingham BF a few years back, it has become a firm favourite. Good intense dark fruits and rich dark chocolate. A bit too much for the Welsh Wizard. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top | 4.80 | | Having had this before in not great nick I was really interested how the beer would taste under Martyn's excellent cellarmanship. The hops really come through, peppery and pungent. The malts still need some work though by the brewer. Still it really was surprisingly good. |
| Dark Star - Original | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Renaissance Ruby Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried |
18 Aug 2010 (ChrisE)
A typical lunch time session in the Butchers, about seven or eight customers all talking to each other, and enjoying good ale. I did not make a note of all the beers that were available.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | 5.60 | | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Superb as usual. |
17 Aug 2010 (Ian)
First one in followed by a few of the local faces. Gavin was on serving and 6 beers to choose from. I was driving so couldn't stay for more than one
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Lovely as always and would have liked to have stopped for more. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | 5.60 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Extra | 4.30 | Not Tried | All the regulars said that this was good. |
13 Aug 2010 (Ken)
Friday the 13th. Unlucky for some. But they obviously don't know the Butchers Arms.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | | Was Gales, now Fullers, but glad to see the same high quality is being maintained. An excellent quaffable pint that disguises its 4.8% remarkably well |
03 Aug 2010 (Andrew)
Winner. Jane's mum was baby sitting so Jane and I got out for an hour. Walked in and said hello to Glyn who then dashed off. What a great pub this is. Martin was up at the Great British Beer Festival and the conversation turned to who was no longer going to frequent the Butchers now Martyn was no longer regularly behind the bar and those who were going to start coming more regularly because Martyn was no longer behind the bar. That's the power of a great landlord - there's no one sitting on the fence. Personally, seeing Martyn is one of the attractions for me of the Butcher's. I'm also in agreement with Del Amitri; "If the bomb drops baby I want to be the last to know". Of course they forgot to qualify that by saying that's only the case whilst sitting in the Butcher's. Perhaps they never made it to the Butcher's.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | This is the other main attraction for me of the Butcher's Arms. Best Hop Head I can get anywhere I've tried is here. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | I'm with Mick on this one. It's a superb beer with a great hop profile and subtle caramel malt. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Had a sip of Jane's and it was excellent |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | Not Tried |
24 Jul 2010 (Mick)
Three locals in when we arrived 5 minutes after opening, lovely evening with the sun shining into the pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Perfect condition, superb taste, so complex for a 3.8% beer |
| Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%) | 4.10 | | Very nice, smooth and moorish |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
07 Jul 2010 (Ken)
Since the arrival of Martyn's new baby it seems like we're going to see less of him. However, the addition of Gavin (aka Tuscany Sunset) to the management team is a wise choice. Now visitors can expect not only the finest ales but also service with a smile.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Summer Solstice | 4.20 | | Just the ticket for the current warm spell. Light, refreshing, hoppy as you'd expect from Darkstar with the additional benefit of a little extra kick |
03 Jun 2010 (Mick)
Back here again, two days running, well the beer is sublime. Nice to see Glynn again. That unique Butchers atmosphere prevails.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Splendid stuff, dark malty, raisins and dark fruit. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Super light hoppy ale. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About The Butchers Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 240 |
| 428 |
| 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 380 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.
Postcode: CT6 7HL