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The Butchers Arms (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale |  | 2 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 3 |
| Dark Star - Hylder Blonde | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | | 3 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout |  | 3 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 4 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples | | 1 |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Festival | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | | 3 |
| Dark Star - Golden Gate |  | 1 |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | | 1 |
| Adnams - Broadside | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| King & Barnes (now see and use Badger entries) - Sussex Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
14 Oct 2009 (Blair)
Dragged my old man out for a few pints. Polyps of all things seemed to dominate the evening, just as bad as it sounds. Great banter as always, I've been informed by my sources that the mystery person who couldn't take his drink last week wasn't any of us three, it was in fact 2 gents who left just before us. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples | 4.00 | | Exrtremely drinkable bitter, fruity with plenty of bready malt. Great beer. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | Really rich, dry stout. Lots of fruit and roasted malt with just a hint of liquorice. This is one to savour. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | 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 |
10 Oct 2009 (Ian)
Met up with Ang from Ratebeer and Andrew of this parish. Brilliant pub. People were queueing outside even before opening it's that popular. Great group in from Buckinghamshire who very much appreciated the beer and atmosphere. Good to see Glyn the Roof, Andy the Onion and Simon too. Great to catch up with Martyn as well. Beer quality as always was faultless.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 | | If I could rank this higher I would. 2004 version half pint. Must have taken me the best part of an hour to drink. During which time I went from being completely speechless to raving about how good this is. Raisins, molasses, nuts, dry oloroso sherry, it has it all. And not a hint of alcohol presence in the taste which for a barley wine shows how good this is. If you haven't been here and haven't had it. Come. You won't be disappointed. But have a pint of Hophead first. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Partly because this beer is better on gravity than on handpull, partly because it was on top form, but really, this is the zenith for well kept new style golden ales. So much so even Glyn the Roof is drinking it. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | Take one of the best breweries in Britain, take Nelson Sauvin hops, take the best cellarman in Kent. What you have is stunning. I've had this quite a few times, but the intensity of the gooseberry/grapefruit/tropical fruits in the mouth and on the swallow were shear perfection. A little sweaty sox on the aroma, but the flavour on the swallow was so good, I couldn't fault it. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | We'd kind of been badgering Martyn most of the night to put this on, because I'd had it a couple of weeks before at The Haywain in Bramling and knew how good it was. Eddie Gadd is making some great stouts now, alongside the Exodus and the Pandemonium, I thought this was excellent. Good roastiness without being over the top, some dark fruits, dates/figs, good fullness in the body and mouthfeel and a bitterness on the finish. So good I bought 3.5 pints of it to take home and it still tasted great on Sunday afternoon. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Now this is no comment at all on Martyn's cellaring, but I don't think this latest batch of Best Bitter was as hoppy as ones going before and the malt is a little bit more biscuity. Good, I was really happy with my pint, but having had this so many times, I want it brewed at perfection. |
10 Oct 2009 (Andrew)
The Butcher's Arms hey? Well yes. East Kent Pub of the Year? Umm, bit better than just that I think (no disrespect to the the Bull). I arrived at 8pm. Ian and Ang were already there in the corner drinking Harvey's. Glyn the Roof was holding court (good man). Martyn was on top form as usual and there's now a chalk-board sporting the odds on who's getting banded next which I think lends an element of excitement to the whole proceedings. As for beer quality, well I've been to a lot of pubs and no one serves beer quite as well as Martyn does. It was brilliant to see Ian too as I don't get out quite like I used to when I was 18.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 | | Ok, I've only had a few sips of Ian's but hell-fire this was an unbelievable beer. I would say that it had no alcohol in it which is a fantastic testament to its quality. Molasses, raisins, Christmas cake. Hell of a beer. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | What can you say? The best beer in the best pub. Ok, I've said it now. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | Wow. Gooseberry, peach, fizzy dryness. Excellent beer for its strength and not cloying at all. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Oatmeal Stout | 4.60 | | Top stuff. I like Gadd's. He's really upped his game in the last few years. This was an excellent dry, slightly tart, roasted, slightly smoked stout that did the business. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
09 Oct 2009 (Blair)
We were stumped what to do on a friday night so decided on a night here. After the half hour walk in thr rain to get here, a beer was most welcome. Great fun as always.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | | Had to drink this a little faster than I would have liked but still beautiful. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Lovely 'different' ale. Roasted malt and hops, really tasty. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | | Sweet, floral and very fruity ale. Really does not taste 5.2%. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
29 Sep 2009 (Blair)
Only a swift visit tonight, mainly so I can be sure I'll be up for work in time in the morning. Steady stream of regulars coming in and out. Main topic of converdation seemed to be the lewd actions of a certain local. Funny night as I've come to expect.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | | Almost a 5, rich and fruity with almost a fruitcake like flavour to it. Delicious. |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | 4.60 | | Exceptionally light, crisp and refreshing ale. |
| Dark Star - Golden Gate | 4.50 | | Marked as 4.2%. Typical hoppy dark star ale in a lot of ways, although slightly darker and with a little more malt and fruit. Good beer, but pales in comparison to the likes of hophead and the apa in my opinion. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
23 Sep 2009 (Conan the Librarian)
Came in for 1 on my way home from work, to find Camra in attendance with Martyns latest award. This really is an award winning pub. One topic of conversation was the loss the previous night of a Ferrari Mondena, when the driver lost control just up the road overturned and it burst into flames. Oops
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hylder Blonde | 4.20 | | As with dark star another great tasting beer well served (of course) |
| King & Barnes (now see and use Badger entries) - Sussex Best Bitter | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| 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 |
22 Sep 2009 (Mick)
We were in early, a couple of locals in, we discussed who would be banned next.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Fantastic, I love this beer, intense flavour for a 3.8% beer, not quite sure how to define it, even the brewers say it's not a mild. Is it a dark bitter? I do not know or care, it is a superb ale. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hylder Blonde | 4.20 | Not Tried |
10 Sep 2009 (Blair)
Only 3 other people in tonight which took me by surprise, I was with a group of eight though so it didn't stay quiet for long. Great banter as always and my friends were quite astounded by the pickled eggs. Not so taken by the bright red hophead however.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | | We polished off the last of Martyn's ESB, it was absolutely stunning. |
| Dark Star - Festival | 5.00 | | Rich, dark and malty beer. A littlt toffee and biscuit in there, really very good beer. |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | | Very light refreshing beer, not quite as full flavoured as I'd like in a beer of this strength though. Still a very enjoyable pint. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
10 Sep 2009 (Ken)
Just a short visit this evening, but it always amazes me how easy it is to strike up some friendly banter with people you've never met before. Subjects this evening ranged from David Attenborough's daughter to Billy Cotton, Arthur Askey, and to where Scotty hid the bodies of his ex-neighbours! Answers on a postcard please.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Never ceases to amaze.Just consistently good drinking. |
03 Sep 2009 (Conan the Librarian)
Attended Martyn's birthday bash, of course there were only 12 people in (cos thats all it will hold) I THINK NOT I counted 28 at one time, and all enjoying each others company, and the excellent beer, with some pie and cake thrown in. Sadly due to circumstances I could only sample the Hophead which as usual was delicious
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Light and full of flavour |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | 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