Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Philip Bosco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Philip, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

In my journey into the world of craft beer, I became obsessed with the diverse flavors offered by beer makers. As a videographer with a desire to use my camera more, I found inspiration in exploring cooking techniques, influenced by Elan Hall, Top Chef and Knife Fight host and the YouTube show “Binging with Babish.” Despite lacking prior cooking skills, I embarked on the venture of Paired Pints, using weekends to experiment with food and beer pairings while honing my culinary abilities. Initially reliant on gadgets, I eventually realized the power of basic tools like a knife in the kitchen.

Throughout this self-taught culinary adventure, I upgraded my cooking gear, invested in decent knives, learned how to sharpen said knives and acquired fun toys like an immersion blender, a KitchenAid mixer, and a sous vide. Despite the gadget-heavy start, I’ve come to appreciate the simplicity of using essential tools.

I noticed that I wasn’t perfecting my beer and food flavor pairings about 2 years in. I made it a mission to learn more about how flavors interact with other and even diving into the science. the Flavor Matrix is my go to and a good back up is The Art and Science of Food Pairing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I often find myself fielding inquiries from curious individuals wondering whether I’m a chef or a brewer. The truth is, I’m neither; I proudly identify as a hobbyist who is deeply passionate about the realms of food, beer, and education. This journey, embarked upon as a labor of love, has rich tapestry with experiences, connecting me with fascinating individuals and opening doors to a world of flavors and techniques.

My status as a hobbyist doesn’t diminish the intensity of my enthusiasm for the craft. Rather, it allows me to explore these realms with a genuine curiosity. I’ve had the privilege of delving world of craft beer, encountering flavorful brews that serve as a constant source of inspiration. It’s been a continuous learning process, marked by experimentation and the discovery of new cooking techniques.

My hobbies sometime blend. My miniature hobby, where I take beers and build beerscapes around them is one of my favorite things to do. One of them is actually in the art of Troegs gallery at Troegs brewery. Here’s a link to my miniature beerscapes
https://www.pairedpints.com/beerscapes

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey is the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who share a similar passion for the culinary and brewing arts. These interactions have not only broadened my perspective but have also fostered new content collaborations.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Who wouldn’t want to turn their passion into a full-time job? For me, it boils down to three key factors. First off, having my passion as my job is a no-brainer. On top of that, I’ve always had a fondness for teaching, relishing the opportunity to help others learn new things and seeing the satisfaction on their faces when they appreciate something I find cool. The third factor is the people. From well-known figures like Barry from Sandwiches of History, Ilan Hall, and Jennifer Carroll from Top Chef, to up-and-coming stars like Johnathan Jones (Johnathanbbq), Billy Zureikat (therealbillyz), and Kyle Seip (CastIron_Kyle), everyone I’ve met has been influential. Just by being creative, I’ve connected with some of the best individuals, like Kyle, who has become a great friend over the past two years. Together with his brother Tyler Seip and our friend Paul Garrison, we even started a podcast…one last name drop, The Full Slice Podcast. These connections keep me motivated. While I’ve been at this for a while, the key is to put yourself out there and reach out to people you admire; otherwise, working with interesting individuals can be a challenge.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Stop comparing yourself to others. By trade, I work in marketing, specifically using data to gather insights on behavior, so I am already wired to lock on to a creator’s stats, who is relevant or in my same vertical. I kind of hate myself for admitting it, but there was a time when I would check on a handful of creators and lament as to why they were growing, and I wasn’t, perseverating on what I hypothesized was wrong. We all have our own stuff, mine being ADHD and depression – its not a fun combo when your passion is tethered to this anchor of negativity that consumes your mind every time you think of said passion.

Let me tell you, therapy works wonders. If you’re facing even the slightest struggle, find the right therapist and discover more about yourself. As Carl Jung wisely put it, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Through therapy, I uncovered a pattern: I kept comparing my growth to others’ success, realizing how detrimental and unhealthy it was. The lesson here is crystal clear – steer clear of comparison. As the old saying goes, it’s a joy thief.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pairedpints.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pairedpints
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PairedPints
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pairedpints

Image Credits
Philip Bosco, PairedPints