The Germans brew their beer according to a law of purity, which goes back to 1516, and it seems, that there is quite some tradition. In Bavaria (a landscape in Germany, which is to me like a foreign country, very special hard to understand dialect, very traditional in their habits and clothing, leatherpants for the men, a Dirndl for the ladies, well known for the Münchner Oktoberfest. Yes, special, but I like it. Heck, their traditional beer glasses contain 1liter, it is up to the angloamerican audience, to get, how much that is) it is quite usual in many companies for the workers to have a beer at work. For them beer is "basic nourishment".
Lastly I let the mighty Arthur Saxon speak:" Spirits I have proved to be disatvantegeous to the would be athlete, and my favourite drink is lager beer. Beer an stout should be amongst alcoholic liquours the best drink for the weightlifter, as they are better calculated to build up the physical powers than any spirit drink, such as whiskey or brandy." (The development of physical power by A.Saxon, p.52) This unbelievable man even admits that he is a smoker, but says that moderation is the key.