Future Drinking: Hopworks to Make Cider? Plus, Local Mezcal by Meteca.

Our sorta-weekly recap of gossip via OLCC liquor license applications:

Looks like Portland will be making its own brand of tequila’s country cousin, mezcal. Sofia Acosta Rascon, no apparent relation to the young Mexican-Californian racquetball star of the same name, has applied for a license to begin distilling the Oaxacan-style maguey (blue agave) spirit under the name Meteca—Spanish for "foreigner.” Or, if you prefer, it's Brazilian slang for a narc. Rascon recently hosted an artisanal mezcal tasting at Southeast eatery Xico.

In other news on the local hooch front, Hopworks Urban Brewery applied for a winery license at its location on 2944 SE Powell Blvd. According to Bruce Kehe, marketing director at Hopworks, the brewery needs the winery license in the immediate case so it can make fruit beers that are more than 50% fruit juice. “It gives us a bit more flexibility,” says Kehe, “and it also leaves us open to make ciders in the future.... But we're not going to make wine. You won't see us saying, 'This is our new Cabernet.'"    

Prominent pro-marijuana activist and former candidate for Secretary of State Bob Wolfe looks to be moving his longtime mail-order wine business, Oregon Pinot Noir Club, into the Southeast Industrial district, at an unassuming warehouse space (2100 SE 10th St.) just a couple blocks away from Scully’s, an old-school Alcoholics Anonymous meet-up.

Maria D. Medina will be opening up a Mexican spot called Los Colomos in the old location of Matona’s Mexican Restaurant (5919 SE Foster Blvd.)

El Cubo de Cuba has applied for a full liquor license at its new brick-and-mortar Southeast Hawthorne spot. Mojitos to come, we presume?

Brand-new sandwich spot South Paw Deli (441 N. Killingsworth) has applied for a beer-and-wine license.