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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW New Medford library storytime event is all about senses ... Boys who started fires near school, vandalized playground equipment sought ... Bend businessman announces bid for Wyden's Senate seat ... New Medford library storytime event is all about senses ... Boys who started fires near school, vandalized playground equipment sought ... Bend businessman announces bid for Wyden's Senate seat ... DINING Burgers, brews and outdoor gear at Sawyer Station Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 5, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 5, 2016 at 10:45 AM Posted Feb. 5, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 5, 2016 at 10:45 AM » Social News Sales of beer with outdoor gear is one of Southern Oregon’s latest trends. Customers of Flywheel Bicycle Solutions have sipped craft brews and wines for the past two years at the Talent store. And Medford’s Northwest Outdoor Store plans to open a growler station later this month. Both businesses are capitalizing on a new interpretation of state rules that allow them to supplement regular sales with beer and wine or to create an ambiance that encourages customers to linger, according to a recent Mail Tribune story. Sawyer Station in Gold Hill does all that and more. A selection of burgers, sandwiches and breakfast dishes flows almost as swiftly as the nearby Rogue River from a tiny kitchen wedged into a corner of the company’s showroom. A dozen local wines and a half-dozen regional beers can complement the fare. The manufacturer of paddles and oars started pouring alcoholic beverages in June, expanding food service beyond microwaved items a couple of months later. “Grab-and-go” burritos and sandwiches still repose in a countertop-warming cabinet. But food cooked to order comes out surprisingly fast, fresh and flavorful since a former coffee-shop owner and woman-of-all-trades took the helm. Basic burgers are priced from just $4 for beef to $5 for turkey. Signature burgers with bacon, pineapple, jalapenos and house-made aioli; a salmon patty with “awesome sauce”; and two vegetarian burger options each cost $7. Served with a side of house-made potato or macaroni salad, daily specials can be had for just $6. I counted myself lucky that this visit fell on a Friday, promising a mushroom-Swiss burger. Teriyaki chicken with rice, Reuben and pulled-pork sandwiches and a pastrami burger are offered earlier in the week. Sawyer’s server/cook/gas-station attendant gamely agreed to substitute a turkey patty for the standard beef at no extra charge. I wasn’t bothered in the slightest that Sawyer’s burger patties are premade. Aromas wafting from the gas grill outside set my stomach growling. So did the sight of other customers’ burgers arriving to their tables. Seating comes in several arrangements at Sawyer, the converted garage of Gold Hill’s longtime gas station. Beneath the high ceilings are bar-height tables and chairs, as well as black leather couches surrounding a coffee table. Racked along the walls are Sawyer’s signature driftboat oars and paddles for canoes, kayaks and rafts. Two rafts are beached just beyond the roll-up garage doors, and canoes and kayaks hang from the ceiling. Toys don’t stop there, either. I noticed a toddler’s plastic push toy and a grocery sack of Barbie dolls under a table, giving kids a reason to linger at Sawyer, too. While perusing the showroom, I sipped Fivepine Chocolate Porter from Three Creeks Brewing Co. in Sisters. India pale, session and blond ales also were on tap for $3 per pint. Squeezed next to the taps, an espresso machine furnishes a full lineup of coffee drinks. Spying a panini press and slow cookers contributing to Sawyer’s food preparation, I wondered if my burger’s onions and mushrooms would be truly sautéed as the menu stated, or merely charred on the grill. The results, however, were practically perfect: sweet, tender onions still in neat rings and succulent mushrooms. Both contributed savory juices to a turkey burger that would have benefited from a bit more moisture. The accompanying macaroni salad also surpassed my expectations. Rather than the standard pickles and peppers lending flavor, this version boasted tomatoes, fresh herbs and diced onion that was, again, surprisingly mellow. Located at 404 Second Ave., Gold Hill, Sawyer Station is open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, at 7 a.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 541-228-9645. — Sarah Lemon MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 5, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 5, 2016 at 10:45 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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