The Amateur Brewer is a newsletter containing historical information, general information, and answers to readers' queries about brewing beer at home. This issue of the annual edition updates the publication schedule: "The Amateur Brewer is published annually in August, in conjunction with the Amateur Brewer Newsletter, published in October, December, February and May." Published in Summer 1981, this issue features long articles on beer design and malting barley, a long and illustrated article on the Anchor Brewery's Steam Beer, an overview of contemporary newsletters on home brewing, and recipes for California Steam Beer.