Most stouts keep the hops firmly in the background. Cascadian Tides doesn't. The grain bill of Pilsner, Rye, Wheat, Flaked Oats, Roasted Barley, and Biscuit 50 malt builds a dark, complex base, and then Columbus and Simcoe bring citrus and pine on top of the roasted character. It pours very dark brown to black with a tan head. Coffee and dark chocolate lead the nose, with a faint resinous hop note underneath. On the palate, the roast comes through clearly alongside biscuit malt warmth, and then the Columbus and Simcoe add their citrus and pine alongside rather than in competition with the roast. The mouthfeel is fuller than you'd expect from a low-calorie stout. The finish has lasting bitterness that blends roast and hop in roughly equal measure. It's a good stout to try if you're tired of straightforwardly bitter-chocolate AF stouts.