physiology - Effects of beer on muscle recovery after exercise

There are a few studies around related to this. One particular study(1) suggests that:

• Neural drive is decreased following eccentric exercise leading to a reduction in muscle force. Alcohol may further reduce the already depressed neural drive.




• Alcohol also has been shown to affect the innate immune system by altering the activity of a number of inflammatory proteins. A lot of these play "important roles in the damage and repair processes occurring after eccentric exercise". Alterations in these proteins may affect muscle recovery post-exercise.(2).

The second point is maybe what's relevant to the question at hand? They say more research is required though.

Edit (expanded discussion per comment below). The study itself was carried out using 8 (+/-1) standard drinks immediately following a workout. The article(1) itself doesn't hypothesise the point made earlier regarding inflammatory proteins, it rather points to earlier research(2), to suggest this may be the case.

Whether a dose-dependant relationship exists, or the magnitude of it with regards to the alteration in inflammatory proteins is not discussed (except in the context of chronic versus acute alcohol use). Just that the possible effect on inflammatory proteins exists which may affect muscle recovery post-exercise.

1. Barnes, et al. Acute alcohol consumption aggravates the decline in muscle performance following strenuous eccentric exercise. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2010. 1:189-93.

Edit
2. Szabo. Consequences of alcohol consumption on host defence. Alcohol Alcohol. 1999. 1999:830–841.