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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Hophead ExtraExceptional2
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - JaipurExceptional1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Exceptional7
Larkins - PorterExceptional1
Theakston - Old PeculierExcellent2
Dark Star - Porter (aka City)Excellent1
Dark Star - Winter MeltdownExcellent2
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent2
1648 - Bee-HeadGood1
Dark Star - MildGood1
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)Not Tried0
Timothy Taylor - LandlordNot Tried0
Dark Star - Espresso StoutNot Tried0
Dark Star - OriginalNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBNot Tried0
Dark Star - Over The MoonNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

05 Apr 2008 (Blair)
Came with a few friends, managed to squeeze in. Really friendly, chatted to all the locals. It was a bad idea taking the route through the golf course back to the station, fell in a fair few ditches.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Winter Meltdown5.00ExceptionalThis was actually a mix of winter meltdown and an imperial stout that one of the customers had brewed himself. The imperial stout on it's own was delicious and mixing it with the winter meltdown created one of the finest beers I'll never be able to drink again.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentLovely hoppy straw ale. Really refreshing.
Dark Star - Hophead Extra5.80ExcellentThis beer is outstanding, floral and grassy with a lovely hoppy flavour.
Dark Star - Winter Meltdown5.00GoodQuite pleasant, malty and sweet. Not sure I'm a fan of the ginger though, not my bag really.
29 Mar 2008 (Blair)
Cycled from Broadstairs especially to come here, and well worth the effort. The most unusual place I've ever been. Beer was stunning and the owner and locals were all really friendly. My new favourite pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead Extra5.80ExceptionalMy mate had this and I had a sipette. Not marked up on the board but he had some lying out back apparently. Absolutely gorgeous, I wish this was easier to find.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentThe best pint of this I've ever had. Fruity and Caramel, really refreshing pint.
Dark Star - Porter (aka City)5.50ExcellentLovely porter, fruity with chocolate and toffee. Still never had a Dark Star beer I haven't loved.
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
28 Mar 2008 (Andrew)
Blimey, I've realised that I've not been to a pub for ages. ...so, what better pub to break the fast with than the Butchers Arms? There were a handfull of locals in but I was only stopping to pick up 3.5 pints of Hophead for the excellent value of £2 a pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentExcellent stuff. Powerfull grapefruit hops with hints of dough. Ace
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Porter (aka City)5.50Not Tried
06 Feb 2008 (Andrew)
I knew I could only stay for a pint and I knew that pint would be Darkstar Hophead. When I arrived I read on the board outside that Porter was on but, as usual, it didn't say which one. I thought I'd ask what it was out of interest and then have Hophead anyway. Turned out it was Larkins. Oh well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExceptionalI love this beer. ...and this pint was on top form.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
20 Oct 2007 (Andrew)
Popped in for a take-out. Fairly quiet but that was probably because the world cup rugby final was on
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentVery fresh with good hop resins and that underlying taste of Harvey's yeast
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead Extra5.80Not Tried
22 Sep 2007 (Ian)
Probably the best night I have been here. It was very crowded when we arrived and I stood outside with my first pint of Jaipur enjoying the cool evening. Later on we got a table and chatted with the locals and Martyn was on fine form as per usual. The eating of the pickles was great. Superb pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalWe had a 4 pint jug of it. We were stood with Martyn chatting about GBBF, local pubs and CAMRA in general. One of the women in the pub apparently recognised me. The beer itself was on top form and I almost cried when the barrel ran out.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90ExceptionalIt may of only been a 4 on the Saturday night, but the bottle I took home and drank on the Sunday was an easy 5/5. The grapefruit is just stunning.
Theakston - Old Peculier5.60GoodI am not a big drinker of this beer, but we gave it a go. Liquorice, dark malts, good characterful beer and interesting.
22 Sep 2007 (Andrew)
What a great pub this is. We walked down and by the time we arrived the pub was packed. Later in the evening Martyn let us try some of the pickled onions that were entering his competition. Man that 'Albert' onion stings.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalTop stuff as always and Martyn probably does the best pint of it I've had. Shame it ran out really but not surprising.
Theakston - Old Peculier5.60ExcellentDark stewed prune colour. Rich plum and raisen. I've not had this for years but this was probably the best pint of it I've had
1648 - Bee-Head4.60GoodWhat I remember of this was that it was a rich golden beer and was good.
Dark Star - Mild3.60GoodSlighly sour with a very burnt malt flavour. Good dark mild.
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90Not Tried
15 Sep 2007 (Andrew)
Couldn't stop as I was in the middle of painting a wall so I just bought a 3.5 pint bottle of Hop Head. Outside there was some kind of party going on as there were loads of people milling about.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentLight and hoppy
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20Not Tried
11 Sep 2007 (Andrew)
Popped in for a pint and had a great time. Martyn told us about who'd been annoying him so far this week and then everyone's attention was distracted by a man called Mad Alan whose name really summed him up. Oh, and the beer quality here is still suberb.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalFresh, hoppy with hints of grapefruit. What a great pint
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Espresso Stout4.20Not Tried
Dark Star - Original5.00Not TriedHad a bit by mistake. It's blackish with a sligtly coffeecane-sugar flavour to it.
28 Aug 2007 (Andrew)
There was a film in the 70's called 'Oh Lucky Man'. They're doing a remake and it will star me and my new ability to get to the Butcher's Arms in 10 minutes on my bike! What a great pub this is.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalThis was possibly the best pint of Hophead I've had. I sank 2 pints with ease.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not TriedHad a sip of Jane's and it was excellent
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Not Tried

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About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional240
Excellent428
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 380 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL