One of my favorite spots in Capital Hill. The pickle back is their claim to fame, along with the Malaysian take out place next door that you can munch on here. They make their own spicy pickle juice which you use to chase cheap whiskey or vodka. Wow!!! Our bartender was very friendly and helpful. She also recommended we try the Mexican food at The Saint (next block) which made our night.
Review Source:I've been loving the picklebacks for awhile now, ever since my homie turned me onto the concept last year. As a result I've been  asking for it everywhere with very rare success. I had been hearing about the homemade picklebacks at Montana for quite some time and finally got to try one (actually three iirc) of the spicy/tangy shots this past Summer. Dope. They're also cool with you bringing in Malaysian street food from Kedai Mekan next door and eating it at one of their booths. How cool is that?
Review Source:I think Montana is a dive bar. Â It's definitely a busy bar on weekend nights and the location near Olive & Denny make it a perfect place to meet a group of friends for a drink. Â It's fairly dark, has lots of wood and references to the state of Montana, and chatty bartenders. Â I was with a pretty big group both times I went and didn't feel out of place or unreasonably crowded.
...still not sure what I think of picklebacks, but apparently you haven't had the Montanyan experience until you have one. Â And a Moscow Mule. Â I actually recommend both, but the pickleback was more thought-provoking than refreshing. Â The Moscow Mule was awesome. Â Go to Montana!
Montana is an unpretentious dive-ish type bar on East Olive Way on Capitol Hill. I got some takeout from Kedai Makan up the street and headed over to Montana as they allow Kedai patrons to eat there.
I thought it was good timing to also try a drink cocktail from Montana which is known as the brew birthplace of local ginger beer, Rachel's Ginger Beer which has since expanded off the Hill. Though you can still get ginger beer here despite the move.
The interior of the space here is dark like a dive should be. It is a friendly neighborhood bar which is easygoing and low key. It does not pretend to be what it isn't. There are many booths for large groups as well as a bar table area right in front to enjoy your libations. This is one of those spaces in which you need to go to the bar and order your drink rather than wait on someone to come to your table.
Drink prices are pretty reasonable. I got a Moscow Mule here for $6. It is a nice concoction which includes the aforementioned Rachel's Ginger Beer. It pairs well with the Malaysian beef noodles that I got at Kedai. I like the lime in the drink as it makes it a refreshing drink that is perfect for summer. And it just so happens it is a low calorie cocktail so you can have two if you want (if you can handle the alcohol).
If you are looking for a no frills place on Capitol Hill that makes a nice cocktail, Montana is the spot for you.
There are a lot of things I like here. There are some things I don't so much -- but all in all Montana is alright so a solid 3 stars it gets.
First off. It is DARK in here. Like, so dark I can't read whats on tap unless I take that candle on the table and pretty much ignite the menu on fire.
Second off. Um, holy crap this has to be the most ABYSMAL tap list i've come across in the city. Seriously. Why so pathetic Montana? Moose Drool is the best you have on tap and that just registers as an "ok" beer in my book. Rainier? Sapporo? Blechity blech. For shame, this is a microbrew capital. At least get something beyond reasonably decent.
3rd -- RGB on tap. So that sort of makes up for the shitty beer beer? I guess? I mean, Rachel's IS delicious. And I do like me some cocktails made with some superb ginger beer. So there is that. But a moscow mule in a plain ol glass pint glass is a wee bit disappointing.
4th - pours are strong. Thanks
5th- hey there photo booth. I like photo booths.
6th - Kedai Maken next door providing nibbles. I'm not a fan but hey. Food
7th & lastly- it's bigger now. Lots of booths and room for folks, so that's nice considering this place can get packed. I like not having to dry hump strangers in order to place a drink order. So kudos for that.
Had a blast here.
Grafiti, pictures and stickers everywhere give it a really personal feel. The bartender was incredibly fun and friendly. Â The music selection was high energy and fun.
Drinks were about $5 during happy hour or about $7 afterwards... pretty standard.
Drinks were stiff. The moscow mule was ok. I prefer my ginger beer with more of a ginger bite and a little bit of carbonation.. It mostly tasted like flat lime juice. Maybe I got a bad batch. Regardless, the mixed drinks on tap was a neat (& time saving) feature.
A good place to catch a few drinks with friends :) & the food place next door looked incredible!
Went here to grab a couple of drinks on a night out before getting dinner around the corner at La Bete - except for the fact that it was crowded enough at 6pm that we had to wait to get a seat, I enjoyed it. Good drink & beer selection, nice vibe, still possible to hear yourself even when it was mostly full. You gotta saddle on up (see what I did there) to the bar to order your drinks, and when we went only the upper bar was open, but they have two bars.
Not sure it's Montana-esque enough for the name - but what do I know about Montana. Nothing, that's what.
Also, you can get food at the Malaysian street food place next door and bring it here because they don't otherwise serve food here.
I've been here twice, and still don't really understand the appeal, honestly. Â It's divier than the Redwood up the block, which is saying a lot. Â The music is loud, the beer selection is kind of slim, and the pre-mixed cocktails are a bit gross. Â Also, last time I was here I sat under a penis that was etched into the booth. Â But whatever, I guess people still like coming here. Â Also you can go next door to Kedai Makan and get some food and bring it back, which is kind of a novelty.
Review Source:Have you ever had one of those dreams where you discover a secret room in a space you're familiar with?? Â If not, imagine stumbling into a previously unknown room at Linda's with even more graffiti in the bathrooms (even ON the toilet seat) Â and you have Montana.
The walls are black, there are rusty signs on the walls and what looked to be 25 years worth of messages carved into our table. Â My favorite said "cock block". Â
Blah, blah specialty cocktails. Â I don't care about these things as I'm a diehard beer and a shot girl, but these guys know how to make a rusty nail and the staff is a rare breed of Capitol Hill hipsters looking all young and beautiful with silly beards and bleached hair who are also genuinely smiley and just attentive enough.
What seals the deal is that they allow dogs, and food from their neighbor  Kedai Mekan inside.  Our waitress even cleared our food mess from Kedai and left us alone long after we had finished eating/drinking and were selfishly enjoying the best seat in the house.
I haven't had enough drinks here to know how good it is, but if you want to drop in somewhere in the day and happen to venture towards Capitol Hill, the isn't a bad option. The service is friendly and it's a little more than just "another divey" bar. They do have the whole $3-5 wells and have a few specials on the walls that are for the venturous drinkers.
Dogs are absolutely allowed and the best thing is, if you order the Kedai Makan next door, you are more than welcomed to take it into Montana's for a sit down meal. Bathroom wise, it doesn't seem very clean because of all the graffiti or drawings on the wall, but it's actually well kept inside and not a dark, scary space in the wall.
I've liked the Moscow Mule from The Zig Zag Cafe and Ba Bar, and the one here is not too far off from theirs. Still has a fresh light taste to it, and a VERY easy drink, which makes it 5x more dangerous than any other cocktails.
I have no idea what the pickle back is, from seeing the reviews, I have to go back to try it someday.
This bar is frickin' awesome.
I regularly bring people to this bar who want to explore the cap hill area or are from out of town. It's unique, the cocktails are amazing, and the service is friendly and helpful.
They have rotating cocktails on tap, which I was somewhat nervous about for maybe five seconds until I tried one (or two, or three..). My girlfriend has tried a strawberry chili margarita and I've done a watermelon fresco. This was a while ago, so I have no idea what they have currently.
I'm definitely a sucker for the pickle back shots. They are So. Freaking. Amazing. You HAVE to try one. Just do it. The moscow mules are super amazing too with Rachel's homemade ginger beer.
My only downside is that it is super loud in there. It's hard to hold a conversation and can sometimes become unbearable. It was also ridiculously small and hard to find a chair or table... BUT they did combine with the unit next to them and I haven't been there since it's expanded. I can't wait  to check it out. :)
Montana 2.0 is in biznass and the doubled size has doubled the amazingness. There is now a second bar located in the added space which increases efficiency and helps you get your mules and picklebacks even faster! And it's actually possible to get a booth after 10:30pm now! ... maybe. Also, now that Kedai Mekan has moved in next door you can get your delicious Malaysian bites to accompany your taptails. If that doesn't seal the deal I'm not sure what does.
Montana. The best.
Short review. This place is cool. Hipsters (ironic and non-ironic) mixing with the trendy and the, ever-elusive, Seattle hicks. Cool Montana dive vibe and the background Kanye was a good juxtaposition. The big negative is the lack of space but I believe that I saw signs for an expansion party on 2/24/13...so this might not be an issue for long.
Strong drinks. Decent prices. Nice people. Great beer (Tecate on tap!?! YES!). Obviously the Moscow Mules are classically good.
Rachel's Ginger Beer makes for the best Moscow Mules and other specialty drinks! Â I love supporting local businesses, and I'm really glad Kedai Makan is now next door so I can support several at once.
Right now the space is very cozy and can get cramped really quickly. Â With the expansion next door, I'm sure it will still be cozy as it's a really popular place.
Finally! I made it to Montana. Now, I love the actual state (despite its iffy politics and the terrible tourist shops in Red Lodge), so I'm pretty sure I love this bar by default. That said, I was only there for a few minutes on NYE, and I only enjoyed a pickleback, so I am by no means an expert. YET.
The pickleback (pickle back?) is a shot of whiskey, followed by a shot of pickle juice. A strange and oddly enticing combo. My friend didn't like the pickle juice part very much, but I loooove pickled things, so I was happy to shoot hers, too. The pickle juice was unexpectedly spicy! But that just made its briny goodness all the better.
Also, the bartenders are hot and friendly. And I'm not just saying that because I know at least one of them.
I love this bar! The decor is quirky and all about Montana.
I went here on a lark with some friends and it was a pleasant surprise. Montana's claim to fame is that they make their own ginger beer. And might I say, they live up to the hype. Best Moscow mules in town!
Last time I went to Montana a random person walked up to us and said he was a starving artist who would make our portraits for a donation. So now we have a permanent memory of a great night! I would definitely go back!
Its definitely a dive bar so don't go expecting sophistication. And don't use the bathroom unless you want an STD.
I really don't know what to do with this review. It is always so hard for me when every time I make it to one spot or another after a reprieve of any kind, it's up and changed names/owners/layout...again.
This little block alone seems knee-deep in those feelings for me.
A little post-Elite event moar-drinks time w/ a pair of Ian's and 'XV' Â brought the "Not The Buck Anymore" onto the list.
*sigh*
I didn't *not* like it. It's just... you know?
The concept, bartender, offerings are all big plusses. Big, big plusses. It's the lay-out and the utilization of what little space they have that just sucks.
To work as is, they would have to be no more than marginally successful. Which they have seemingly surpassed. Which means one needs to start drinking at noon or deal with constant risk of being disappointed they're full and resigning yourself to somewhere else or a higher-than-average amount of stranger molestation every time you try and go.
You can't please everyone...but the right combination of planetary alignments or arbitrary factors and you CAN find a way to disappoint everyone.
I added to my ledger with a Ninja and made him buy me a drink, and, to be honest...I have no idea what he bought me. I only remember it was strong and tasty.
It was mid-week and after 10, so we luckily snagged the corner/window booth and were able to sit and chat in likely the one spot that didn't ooze claustrophobic tendencies.
I will never discount Montana, but I will have a tough time counting solely on them when hitting the area for a night of drunkening.
I went here on a Tuesday looking for food and drinks, I didn't know what to expect after I couldn't find a menu online. The frito pie and nachos weren't going to cut it, so I opted for just drinks.
My friend had a pint size Moscow Mule, huge, and didn't taste bad. I had the Martinez, not good at first, but grew on me. Having the drinks on tap is a fun new idea, but I guess mainly to save on labor.
Great place if you want hole in the wall, but I think they are trying too hard to be divey. They look like they bought graffiti benches from another bar.
After reading the reviews on Yelp, and hearing people rave about the Moscow Mule, I decided to try it out. A cocktail on tap... What a concept.
I must admit, I was less than impressed. First off, if you're a first timer, how are you supposed to know there is a drink counter where you order your drink? I may have been waiting all night and gone drinkless if I didn't make the discovery.
Maybe Montana is better for groups looking to get drunk on a budget. Definitely wont be eager to return.
My favorite neighborhood bar. They have rachel's ginger beer on tap. need I say more? That drink is dangerously addicting!! and having them put it in a delicious moscow mule. Â is just crazy talk. it's amazing!!!!
all house made drinks are great!!! mostly a pickle back. you'll thank me later
Had Rachel ginger beer from next door and had to come back from some more. If you buy the jug (for 12) you get refills for 7. Yes please, may I have some more.
To make sure we got our fill of ginger beer for the day we got a Moscow Mule (ginger beer/whiskey) delish!
Looks like every Sunday they got BBQ going on for less than 10 with a different chef/style every week. This place is rocking in terms of vibe. The bartender (David) was awesome.
Montana: Pretty much the opposite of the Big Sky state since it's small and dark and filled with hipsters. Â Also entirely devoid of mountain ranges.
I've been here a couple times recently and I'm a fan. Â There are cocktails on tap, a photo booth, a saddle chair, a small patio, and the bathrooms are pretty clean. Â The pilsner is good. The music is always fucking awesome. Â Yes it gets pretty crowded. Â But I can abide.
I've been sitting on this review for quite a while since my feelings about Montana are still all tangled up with my feelings about The Buck closing. It's a very confusing time for a young lady.
Montana does have a hell of a lot of pluses - the ginger beer is delicious, draft carbonated cocktails are a fun idea, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and Rachel is a wonderful bartender. We sat at the bar and chatted her up for hours, getting more and more blasted on tasty cocktails, and she was basically everything you could hope for in a bartender. Friendly, funny, willing to interact, and just a delightful human in general.
My one problem with Montana - apart from not being The Buck (I know, I know, but I still miss the hell out of that place) - is that it gets wildly crowded. That is a tiny space. Tiny. And if you're not there at like...5 pm on a Tuesday, you're not getting in. Unless you want to get very intimate with a stranger's body by virtue of being smooshed up into it. And hey, kudos to Montana! It's great to see that a nice business in that space is actually doing well and succeeding. I would not wish different for them. I simply can't/won't go as much as I used to in its previous incarnation, and it's not going to be my neighborhood haunt. Sigh.
Is it a worthy replacement for The Buck, though? I think yes.
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