When I spend 3 hours in the saddle most days of the week it's for the enjoyment I get from pushing and testing myself. It's pretty hard work. Eating/drinking some carbs and protein afterward is relatively easy, so if it has the potential to help, why not?

Beer, like NSAIDs, suppresses the natural inflammatory response responsible for rebuilding muscles after strenuous exercise, so is contraindicated for max performance gains....unfortunately.