Welcome to The Belgium King!

BelgiumKing.com was developed in 1999 after my first visit to Belgium, where I fell in love with the country, its people, architecture, landscape, history, and beer culture.

My name is Jim Ritchhart, and I have visited Belgium over 20 times, bringing numerous groups to share my passion for this great country. As a home brewer for over 35 years, I’ve collected beers and beer memorabilia, mostly from Belgium, and traveled throughout all 50 states, Belgium, The Netherlands, England, Germany, and France, always seeking the best breweries and beers.

I was an avid beer writer, working for Brewing News for over eight years, giving seminars at beer conventions, and continually trying to educate others about Belgium and beer in general. In 2014, I partnered in a local brewery, Infinite Ale Works, where all our beers were “Belgium Inspired,” and many won medals at various competitions.

Over my 30+ years of traveling throughout Belgium, I’ve visited every province, explored over 100 breweries, and made lifelong friends throughout the country. I receive no income from this website; I do it to educate and help others see why this is one of the best countries on the planet. If you have any questions, please let me know, and I will try to answer.