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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)Exceptional2
Dark Star - MildExceptional1
Dark Star - SunburstExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent3
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBExcellent1
Dark Star - Over The MoonExcellent2
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSBExcellent1
Adnams - BroadsideExcellent3
Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!!Good1
Dark Star - Best BitterNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

11 Oct 2008 (Mick)
A good bunch of locals in, it seems everybody here has a nickname!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80ExcellentDark Mahogany colour. Rich dark malts and a superb finish,very drinkable.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
27 Sep 2008 (Blair)
Came because of the cheese and pickle contest but it'd been postponed because Martin had gone to the Dark Star brewery. Kev was in charge tonight. Had a great time chatting to alistair and the others, then a slightly worse for wear Martin appeared which was good for a laugh.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExceptionalI didn't know broadside could taste this good. Very rich, very fruity with an almost christmas cake like flavour to it. If it wasn't for the strength I'd have drank this all night.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentFantastic as always.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50ExcellentRich and malty, very smooth and satisfying. Really good.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
24 Sep 2008 (Andrew)
It was a misurable wet night and I really fancied some Broadside. Knowing Martyn was alternating Broadside with HSB meant I had a 50/50 chance that he'd have it on so I popped in to find out. There were 4 locals in and I wish I could have stayed for a pint myself but I had to get home as quickly as possible.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentExactly what I wanted. Chestnut aromas with a fruity resinous oaky body and a earthy hop finish.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not TriedWas tempted to have this but really fancied the Broadside
05 Sep 2008 (Andrew)
I arrived at 6.05pm and already there was a group of people in. I chatted to Martyn in the barrel room whilst he poured my bottle of Hop Head. He was telling me an amusing story about a bunch of folk who’d come in a while back and got on his nerves. He also said he’s going to be opening on Sunday lunchtimes when the clocks go back but just for the winter and only if he can get 20 people to sign to say they’ll actually come in. On the beer front he’s currently rotating Gales HSB and Adnam’s Broadside.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalHophead is a superb beer in its own right but when you add to that the care Martyn takes in keeping it then the Butcher’s Arms becomes the best place to drink it.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not TriedI was tempted to have this but hell, Hop Head was on
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80Not Tried
16 Aug 2008 (Mick)
6:30 and a good mix of locals and visitors including two foreign ladies who seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Mild3.60ExceptionalSuperb, amazingly complex for a beer of this strength, good mouthfeel and long finish. I could have drunk this all evening.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
15 Aug 2008 (Blair)
What a great night. Pretty quiet with no more than around half a dozen in at any one time. Ended up debating the actions of fathers for justice strangely enough. I've got to make the effort to come here more.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentStrong with lots of fruit and bread flavours. Really nice beer but 2 pints did start to hit me a little bit.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentTasted different to normal but in a good way, through me off at first. Sweet with a lovely malty flavour. The best best there is in my eyes.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentStunning pint as always. Light, hoppy with a grassy flavour to it. Just what I needed after the cycle ride here.
29 Jul 2008 (Mick)
Popped in early to try the Wolf beer I hoped would be on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!!4.80Goodcopper/Red colour with a clear white head. Malty with just enough hop to give a balance but still slightly sweet. Nice
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
22 Jul 2008 (Mick)
First customer in at 6 O'clock, chatted with Martin as some more regulars trickled in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentRuby-Black, a complex mix of malt,fruit,some hops and a long bitter sweet finish. This is a favourite of mine and was in excellent condition tonight.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
09 Jul 2008 (Andrew)
A brief visit to pick up a 2litre bottle of beer for the evening. One other customer in. I need to come down here for a session some time soon I think.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentThe hop resins in this are superb. That coupled with the refreshing sweet malt make this an excellent pint.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentNow the recipe has mellowed the hop (or at least I assume it has by the change in the character over the last couple of years) this is an excellent mild. Freshing, light and drinkable.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
25 Jun 2008 (Mick)
Called in for a quick pint on the way home from work, just after 6pm and already a few locals in.It wasn't on the board but Martyn suggested Dark Star Sunburst
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80ExcellentVery hoppy, pale with lots of citrus and a long finish, more body than hophead with a slight underlying sweetness. Very nice indeed.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried

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About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional239
Excellent424
Good92
Acceptable14
Poor-

Website.

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.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL