Canadian prime minister opts for a pint of Barnstormer's Flight Delay IPA to go with his chicken and waffles

While the leadership down south creates chaos, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is going to hole up at Barnstormers, have a pint and wait for this whole thing to blow over.

Last night, a very unexpected group of 12 hit the patio at Barnstormer Brewing and Distillery at 384 Yonge St., in Barrie.

Trudeau and his group were heading back from a Tim Hortons summer camp near Parry Sound when they stopped by the popular Barrie restaurant in the evening.

Barnstormer general manager Bernadine Quigley was off yesterday and thought her staff were pulling her leg when they called her.

“I got a call at home saying that I should come in because the prime minister of Canada was having a pint on the patio,” said Quigley. “I really thought it was a prank, but went in when they insisted.

"Sure enough, there were his security and a couple Barrie police (officers) around the bar, but really nothing intrusive at all. He was just enjoying himself with a beer and some food, it was so amazing.”

Someone from Trudeau’s group called ahead to reserve a table for 12, but never said who was coming, when they showed up they uneventfully went to the patio and began their night.

Trudeau had a pint of Barnstormer’s Flight Delay, a very popular in-house India pale ale, and the chicken and waffles.

Quigley said that the group was there for approximately two hours and Trudeau was very sociable and he himself initiated speaking to everyone there.

“He went from table to table meeting with the customers, talking about pretty much anything but politics; he was just such regular guy,” said Quigley. “He took selfies with anyone who asked and spoke to all of our staff, thanking them for making room for the group and chatting about Barnstormer.”

One thing that really caught the attention of Quigley was how different the culture and political landscape is here in Canada. With the chaos in the United States and President Donald Trump negatively leading the news every night, the fact that the leader of this country stopped in unannounced for a beer in Barrie and has made very little news is so Canadian.

“It is very Canadian, isn’t it? We’ve had a few hits on social media, but nothing over the top and you think it would be different," Quigley said. "That would absolutely never happen with Trump, but here in Canada, of course, our prime minister stopped in for a beer after his trip in Muskoka and it’s not a big deal.”

Trudeau continued his central Ontario tour today with stops in Bradford and Markham.