PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Butchers Arms
The Butchers Arms (Free House)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Summer Solstice |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | | 3 |
| Larkins - Best Bitter | | 2 |
| Larkins - Chiddingstone |  | 1 |
| Larkins - Traditional | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 2 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 3 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) |  | 1 |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Broadside | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
31 Jul 2009 (Ian)
Brilliant evening with a good mix of males and female locals plus some new faces too. Conversation flowed from boat centreboards to installing electrical equipment at Shepherd Neame Good banter with Simon, Kevin the Pickle and Andy the Onion and Ken. Even Andrew turned up with the world's most surprised face.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | | You don't get to see this that often on cask and so pleased I had it. A nosefull of East Kent Golding hops and some Harvey's yeast, perfect malts in the middle and then almost a dry hopped finish. Fantastic. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Slightly less hoppy than normal. Really drinkable with some lovely toasty malts. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Bit yeastier on aroma than usual I thought. Tip top condition, but I get really picky with this beer now, due to Martyn's excellent cellaring means that anything less than the ultimate best in the beer becomes clear. |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | | Good, but not quite as citrusy as I remember it at Ramsgate Rocks earlier in the month |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
31 Jul 2009 (Andrew)
The last day in July. That's a good enough reason to visit the Butcher's. Actually I was out getting bread but hey. Bumped into Ian which was a bit surreal. It was busy with people having a good time but then when a pub's this good that's not really surprising.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | | Copper brown, quite fruity with a crisp bite and that distinctive Harvey's yeast. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | A funny one. As Martyn pointed out it was quite dry. Perfectly drinkable but a little different than usual. |
| 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 | |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | Not Tried |
29 Jul 2009 (Mick)
Called in early, just a few locals in. An amazing choice of beers on offer but I was here to try the Tom Paine, and it was superb!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | | Dark copper/chestnut colour with a thin white head indicating perfect condition. Malty but not overly so, hoppy with a good depth of flavour and a long finish. A fantastic pint. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Dark and bursting with flavour, hard to believe it's only 3.8% |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | 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 | |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | Not Tried |
15 Jul 2009 (Mick)
Quiet tonight, half a dozen locals in,
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 | | A good pint, mellow and smooth, the first pint from the cask,no outstanding flavours but tasted better after each pint. Very nice for a 3.4%. Could have drunk several more. |
| 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 | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried |
11 Jul 2009 (Ken)
Good to see Mrs Miggins and her entourage again on Saturday evening. Lucky enough to match the finest Larkins with the finest pork pie. Rumour has it that Martyn's clinched the East Kent POTY title for the second year running. However all of this is somewhat overshadowed with a concern that CAMRA's going to have to add another couple of pages to its letters page in the August edition of What's Brewing? Looks like firkins at twenty paces!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Best Bitter | 4.40 | | A rich mellow fruitfulness unique to the Larkins Brewery. It's claimed, in some quarters, that rather like Prince Charles, Roger has long meaningful conversations with his hops during the growing season. |
03 Jul 2009 (Glyn)
The only time you can ever really complain about the award winning pub is when your favourite beer runs out or all the beer runs out, well this appeared to be the case this week! The wonderful warm weather must have had something to do with it encouraging punters out and to drink more, or was it the sheer quality of the beer forcing us to finish each barrel.It was almost disappointing to be drinking Harveys because it was all that was left! Highlight of the week Summer Solstice, another great creation from Dark Star. Monday 27th July if anyone is interested is quarter finals day of 20/20 versus Durham, 17.30 start, Butchers Arms is shut, chance to get stuck in to some Sheps. Well done to Martyns 11 other mates for supping with him and paying him for the privilage! Where are the Fanit boys?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Summer Solstice | 4.20 | | hop heads big brother, |
02 Jul 2009 (Mick)
Called in early to try the Summer Solstice and I wasn't disapointed, very nice. The usual crowd of reprobates were in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Summer Solstice | 4.20 | | Very nice, in perfect condition with that super hopiness and a superb finish. |
| 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 |
30 Jun 2009 (Ken)
Some discussion tonight about Martyn's cavalier attitude towards swilling pints in a butcher's shop with his twelve mates as depicted in the letters page of 'What's a'Brewing?'
If you think what he's doing is wrong, or you think he hasn't got twelve mates .................!!!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Chiddingstone | 4.00 | |
25 Jun 2009 (Glyn)
This alluring award winning micro pub worked its charm on two unsuspecting visitors last night. Two German ladies popped in for "just a look" and ended up staying for an hour. Martyn and the regulars worked their charm and the pub claimed more converts. Rattling good evening as always! Pleased that Andy the Onion was in to regulate Phil's dress sense or lack of!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | |
23 Jun 2009 (Glyn)
Quite late for me to be visiting this award winning micro pub, and was surprised to find quite a few early enbibers still there at nine o'clock when I arrived,and still there when I left! To add to Fannits famous peoples list is Frank Muir who was born in Ramsgate and went to Chatham House, (thanks John). Place was buzzing and the beer great as ever.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | The optimum distance for this beer to travel is from Lewes to Herne Bay, because by the time it is dispensed it is in brilliant condition. Perhaps if Martyn sold his to the John Harvey Tavern they too could sell an excellent pint! |
| Larkins - Best Bitter | 4.40 | | Bit young but still excellent |
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