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)
Maldon - Sand AdderExceptional1
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Exceptional2
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBExceptional1
Oakham - CitraExcellent1
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark IslandExcellent1
Mighty Oak - Maldon GoldExcellent1
Hopdaemon - IncubusExcellent4
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent4
Adnams - BroadsideExcellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSBExcellent2
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - GenesisGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold TopNot Tried0
Wadworth - 6XNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopNot Tried0
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good HealthNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

08 Sep 2012 (Mick)
Full of locals tonight, great evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Citra4.20ExcellentLovely stuff, grapefruit and other citrus, good hop flavour balanced by a full body.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60Not Tried
01 Sep 2012 (Mick)
A late report due to the phone/internet being down, part of the joys of rural living.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50ExceptionalFull on ESB, superb, and one is enough tonight.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExcellentWell balanced dark ale, super malt and some hops.
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentUnmistakably Adnams,rich and full bodied.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70ExcellentGood hop bite, lovely citrus, very nice.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
14 Aug 2012 (Andrew)
One of the few benefits of working late is that I get to pass the Butcher's just past opening and therefore get to see the chalk board propped-up outside advertising what's on. HOPHEAD! Two hours later, after tea, I was back down. It was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday night. Martyn was enjoying a night as a customer since Gavin was "behind the bar". Glyn was there too and we had a chat about all kinds of things. ...but I suppose the most important thing was, as Julius Caesar put it during a night out with the Centurions, "I came, I saw, I drank Hophead".
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalStunning stuff! Martyn said this is now back as a regular!
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Health3.60Not Tried
Maldon - Sand Adder5.00Not Tried
11 Aug 2012 (Mick)
Martyn in charge, lively banter and later with the Whitstable crowd, much Tabing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Maldon - Sand Adder5.00ExceptionalSuperb, super hops but with a smooth rich taste, super body. Magic stuff.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExcellentSuper, complex balance of malt and hops.
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80ExcellentLovely, fresh and crisp, good hops.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
09 Aug 2012 (Andrew)
Popped in for a swift pint. Martyn's son was "behind the bar" as Martyn was at a funeral. There were a few chaps in talking about Olympic buses.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis3.50GoodHerne's own brewer. This was the best I've had this beer. It's a nice beer, earthy, hint of burnt malt. Drinkable stuff.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Maldon - Sand Adder5.00Not Tried
04 Aug 2012 (Mick)
Got very busy very quickly then quiet again, nice evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70ExceptionalSunning hops, crisp citrus with a super finish.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExcellentPerfectly crafted beer, complex balance of hops and malt with many undertones, superb.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80GoodPerfect condition but not really a favourite of mine.
02 Aug 2012 (Andrew)
I had the day off so a pint was in order. The conversation , in this the mother of the micropub revolution, centred on the new micropubs about to open around the country. The more the better. Excellent visit as always.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentExcellent condition. I look forward to the day Dark Star are able to put the recipe back to what it was. Still a lovely pint though.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
28 Jul 2012 (Ian)
Saturday evening and I came to meet some DFLs. Hophead was back!!!! Oh and 4 people from Beckenham athletics turned up to drink some Hophead. Which I suppose is the type of warm up you need before running the Herne Bay 10k the following day.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentReally very good indeed. Almost back to it's best. No fault of Martyn, it's still a damn lovely beer. To be honest, sat with a 2 pint jug and a glass, I couldn't have been happier. Maybe I was a bit sluggish. I'd had 2 naps during the day already.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Wadworth - 6X4.10Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried
20 Jul 2012 (Pedro)
Afternoon
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Excellent
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island4.60Excellent
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80Excellenttook home some
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
14 Jul 2012 (ChrisE)
Martyn was expecting us and opened early. The rest of our group got a taxi to Herne Bay at opening time whilst I stayed for another pint and enjoyed the peace and quiet for a while.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00ExcellentIn very good condition.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Maldon Gold3.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not Tried

[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]

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