(Eugene, OR) – It’s that time of year again . . . when a single bottle of beer can be had for hundreds of dollars.

Back in January, Liquid Solutions, a popular online beer store, closed up shop. In a surprising turn of events this past weekend, LS owner, Matt Maples, sent out a newsletter with the following announcement:

“Alas Liquid Solutions Inc. as a business entity is dead and buried but Liquidsolutions.biz the website and purveyor of world-class beer lives on under the new ownership of Sixteen Tons LLC located in Eugene Oregon. We hope to have a great selection available shortly so as to continue to provide you with the great beers you expect from Liquidsolutions.biz.

I (Matt Maples) will be providing reviews, blogs, and all out beer commentary as usual.”

So who is Sixteen Tons? Per the Register-Guard, “The latest entry in Eugene’s beer scene is Sixteen Tons, a bottle shop at 265 E. 13th Ave. offering 300 different ales, lagers, lambics and other more rare and exotic beers, as well as 100 wines, plus organic chocolate and loose-leaf teas.” The store just opened up in the past few weeks.

As for LiquidSolutions.biz, their first order of business is to set up the Fred Fest auction. There aren’t as many items up for auction as in years past but still some intriguing finds. First and foremost, of course, is Hair of the Dog Dave. “Peggy Sue” has bid $450 on the single bottle. The old auction pages are no longer up but I’m virtually certain that Dave has gone for $700 or greater in the past. Bidding for a 10-bottle Deschutes lot is also up past $400.

The auctions close on 5/15. Make your bids here.