Next Glass, a company building software tools for beer enthusiasts, breweries, bars, restaurants and retailers focused on the craft segment, has announced it has acquired certain assets of BeerAdvocate, including the popular www.beeradvocate.com website, an independent online community of enthusiasts and professionals dedicated to supporting and promoting better beer.

Since its inception in 1996, BeerAdvocate.com has grown into one of the largest and most diverse beer communities online, and is considered one of the go-to websites for beer and the benchmark for beer reviews and ratings. Next Glass understands BeerAdvocate's place in the craft beer community as the longest standing forum for in-depth beer reviews with a unique and passionate community. While there are plans to invest in new features and team members to benefit the BeerAdvocate community, the content in BeerAdvocate user profiles, forums, and beer pages will remain unaltered. BeerAdvocate will join Untappd under the Next Glass corporate umbrella; however, both will maintain their own distinct and separate platforms and brands for current and future users to enjoy.

"Communities like BeerAdvocate and Untappd are important pillars of the brewing industry and deserve good stewardship," said Trace Smith, President of Next Glass. "We've demonstrated an appreciation for the integrity of these platforms and the importance of the vision of founders. We've worked hand-in-hand with Untappd Founder Greg Avola over the last five years to improve the Untappd user experience, and we'll do the same with BeerAdvocate to ensure the brand remains true to its long-held central tenet – Respect Beer."