The Rhino

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.06/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

After 9 hours of driving, I was ready for a beer after checking into my hotel. Reviews of places in Missoula seemed to indicate that this would be one of the better places in town.

Located on the southside of downtown Missoula, the rhino is a comfortable, divish looking bar, with a long bar in front of you as you walk in off Ryman street. There are some pool tables in the back, and some TV's over the bar, and this struck me as a very comfortable place to hang with a beer. The vibe here is very relaxed and informal, with all kinds of beer paraphanelia and odd bric-a-brac adorning the back bar and walls.

As for the beer selection, they have 50 different beers on tap, most of which consist of craft and imports (5 macro swill choices as well). The selection is decent, though hardly awe inspiring. They do have a fair number of local beers on tap, which was a plus, along with a number of things from Lagunitas, Deschutes and Ninkasi. I think it says something that the only thing they had from SN was the pale ale and one Ovilla, while from Deschutes they had the pale ale and the black butte porter. Nothing wrong with that, but it would have been nice to see a few more limited release beers on tap here. There were a couple of local bock beers on tap, but I don't think I saw a single RIS (Guinness and the local "mystical" stout were the only stout offerings I noticed).

They don't serve food here (there's a vending machine with snacks), but the bartender was knowledgeable and quick with a beer. There was a good size crowd at Rhino's on the Monday I was here, and he was the only employee I saw working. Given the crowd, service was surprisingly quick.

I don't know. I'm not sure what to make of this place. Easily 3/4's of the crowd here was drinking either mixed drinks or macro swill (looked like they were running some sort of deal on 32 ounces glasses of some macro), and the glass of Piraat I got tasted as if it had been on the gas too long, or the tap lines weren't very clean. Will probably try to check out someplace else next time I'm in town.

04-02-2013 12:41:31 | More by johnmichaelsen

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.71/5  rDev -6.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Definitely an interesting place but as the only real craft beer bar in Missoula (lots of brewpubs) it is a must-go if visiting.

The atmosphere isn't the greatest - very much a local watering hole type environment and somewhat rough around the edges. The service was excellent; very friendly and helpful with recommendations and thoughts on the different beers.

There were 50 taps when I was there but about 10 of them had kicked and not been replaced, which was a disappointment. Some interesting offerings but for the most part it was the standard stuff that gets wide distribution.

Didn't have food here.

10-03-2012 13:53:34 | More by TheSevenDuffs

gueuzer

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | $$

a pretty decent place. looks like a dive bar, but had a fairly hip, college/young-ish clientele. 50 taps, solid, but not mind blowing. a representation of all the macros and a ton of locals. Piraat was probably the most impressive beer on tap, with rogues dipa being second; everyone should find something to be happy with. pool table and slot machines if you get bored. also a couple of TV's but they're easy to ignore. they were on for a NBA playoff game and then just turned off afterwards which was cool.

05-23-2012 03:04:52 | More by gueuzer

bravejoejoe

Montana

4.1/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The Rhino is a really reasonable place to grab a beer, for instances, they had the Abyss on tap for 4 bucks a pint glass. They always seem to have a nice selection of beers that rotate through quickly. Don't go on a fri/say night because it is wall to wall and service sometimes is at a crawl. Tuesday at 130 is a perfect time, then you can ask for a recommendation, and the bartenders seem to know what they are talking about. They also have a shuffle board but get there early and be ready to pay 5 bucks an hour for it.

11-23-2011 04:46:26 | More by bravejoejoe

EricCioe

Montana

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $

I've been to the Rhino a few times since moving here.

The Rhino is near Caras Park, the center of downtown. There is a long bar on the left, tables and round booths to the right, a shuffleboard table in ill-repair in the back, and a little patio out back. Once we were out on the patio and a bum comes through and starts hassling people, but the waitress was cunning and cutting and threw him out to the laughter of everyone present.

The place is old and could stand some updating, but when it's busy it's a decent vibe there. There is one bartender who is very very slow, but everyone else is cool.

Selection is incredible. They had 5 barleywines from 2007-2009 on tap during February and recently put on a cask of 2008 Bigfoot.

Beers are cheap, too. There is little to complain about here other than the vibe of the room itself and the occasionally slow service.

11-19-2011 18:31:13 | More by EricCioe

Torontoblue

Alberta (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $

A must visit when you’re in Missoula. The outside can be a bit off putting having to walk through a herd of smokers standing on the steps, but once you’re through the smoke the Rhino is a great sight. Huge well worn bar on the left, with 50 taps lined up behind, and a cask engine at the far end of the bar. Also, if you’re a whisky drinker, then you’ll be more than happy seeing the bottles on the back bar. Plenty of comfy barstools to ease you up to the bar, and plenty of tables and stools throughout the place. Staff were very friendly; listening to their banter with the locals was very comedic! Beer selection on the day I was there was fantastic, and there was a cask from Big Sky on too. Also thought it was a good touch in having 3 serving sizes of glasses, especially when there were a few high alcohol beers on offer (The Stoic, Perserverance, Mach 10 to name a few). Pricing is ridiculously good, as is the pricing of the single malt whisky’s. Great atmosphere, great people, great bar, great town.

10-09-2011 17:45:03 | More by Torontoblue

Inflames

California

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Very much the college go to spot. But on an early Sunday afternoon in the middle of summer the college crowd is on the river, so hooray for the me. Why do all the college town bars have the same feel about them?
The service was great, very friendly and well infomed about all drinks available for consumption.
The selection was impressive, I got to try the new 30th anniversary brew from SN, then I had the Southern hemisphere. 50 taps is alot of fun, lots to choose from and there is usually one I haven't had. Only bummer was they had a Lips of faith handle up and I requested it, then I was told that it was blown and was replaced with their wit.
Prices range from 3.25 to 5.00 a pint, pretty much a reasonable charge for good suds.
Good place to visit while in Missoula.

07-20-2010 04:44:04 | More by Inflames