Wilmington-based Next Glass, which owns the Untappd app, has acquired some assets of BeerAdvocate, including its website.

​BeerAdvocate, one of the early resources for craft beer aficionados before breweries boomed, will join Untappd under the Next Glass corporate umbrella. But both Untappd and BeerAdvocate will "maintain their own distinct and separate platforms and brands for current and future users to enjoy," according to a news release.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

"Communities like BeerAdvocate and Untappd are important pillars of the brewing industry and deserve good stewardship," said Trace Smith, president of Next Glass, in the release. "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,'"Smith said.

Next Glass acquired certain assets of BeerAdvocate, including beeradvocate.com, an independent online community of enthusiasts and professionals to support and promote beer. 

In 2016, Next Glass announced it merged with Untappd, an app-based social platform for beer enthusiasts.

Next Glass plans to invest in new features and team members for BeerAdvocate; however, "the content in BeerAdvocate user profiles, forums and beer pages will remain unaltered," stated the release.

On the BeerAdvocate website, Todd Alström, founder of BeerAdvocate, said in a post, "We've been struggling to keep the lights on for over two years, and we still face some challenges, but I'm confident that this is the best path for all of us. Next Glass is committed to not only helping BeerAdvocate, but passionate about protecting and cultivating our unique culture, identity, and community.

"I also have a lot of respect for what Greg Avola, Untappd's Co-Founder and CTO, and team have built over the past nine years, and this next chapter is a great opportunity to explore new features and opportunities," he said. "Untappd brings over 100 talented coworkers, killer app development, and powerful sales and insights to the table ... Together, under one banner, BeerAdvocate and Untappd will explore ways to collaborate, strengthen both communities, and provide unmatched resources for its users and the industry."