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 - Mild |  | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 4 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter |  | 3 |
| Dark Star - Sunburst | | 1 |
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | | 1 |
| Adnams - Broadside | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | | 3 |
| Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!! |  | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Hophead 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 Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | I was tempted to have this but hell, Hop Head was on |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Mild | 3.60 | | Superb, amazingly complex for a beer of this strength, good mouthfeel and long finish. I could have drunk this all evening. |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | | Strong 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 Bitter | 4.00 | | Tasted 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) | 3.40 | | Stunning 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!! | 4.80 | | copper/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 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 |
22 Jul 2008 (Mick)
First customer in at 6 O'clock, chatted with Martin as some more regulars trickled in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Ruby-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) - 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 - Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | The hop resins in this are superb. That coupled with the refreshing sweet malt make this an excellent pint. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Now 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) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not 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
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Sunburst | 4.80 | | Very 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 Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried |
21 Jun 2008 (Andrew)
It late evening and it was time for a pint. I arrived with Jane's mum and sister and found the pub nice and busy. I asked Martyn for a pint of HopHead but he said it was past his serving time. My heart sank but then he smiled and said he wasn't serving because it was now "self-service time". So I went and poured our drinks. Fantastic. Jane's mum told Martyn that we'd just come from visiting my new daughter in hospital so from then on he called her "Gran" and Jane's sister "Auntie". Martyn shook my hand and wouldn't let me pay for the drinks.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | The king of hoppy session beers. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Gold | 4.50 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2008 (Mick)
We arrived mid evening, the locals were on form with plenty of banter, a superb atmosphere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | An exceptional pint (or three). Perfect condition, with that unmistakable Harveys taste. Superb |
14 Jun 2008 (Andrew)
Arrived about 6.30 and there were a good number of people in. I was really in to buy 2 litres of Hop Head but I thought I'd have a half of Over-the-Moon while I was at it. I was just about to finish my half when Martyn passed me a half of something that wasn't on the board. It was the last of the Darkstar APA. Fantastic. One of the things I really like about this pub is that within 20 seconds of arriving Martyn was making me laugh with his stories of the day’s activities.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Great aroma of lemons. Fantastic light hoppy astringent beer. |
| Dark Star - Over The Moon | 3.80 | | Greate taste of smooth bitter raisins. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | Smooth cereal body with that great Dark Star hoppy signiture. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried |
About The Butchers Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 241 |
| 432 |
| 95 |
 | 15 |
 | - |
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 385 times, seen 166 different beers and tried 136 of them.
Postcode: CT6 7HL