There's a vast scientific literature suggesting that even small amounts of alcohol have adverse side effects on sleep. Sleep is the biggest factor in muscle recovery and in reducing inflammation. Therefore the best thing one could do for themselves to accelerate physical recovery would be to drink plenty of water and make sure they get enough hours of sleep.

I think it's a bit like how I crave ice cold Coke when I'm thirsty on a hot summer day but then when I just drink tap water that craving reduces significantly. Therefore I know that my body really needed water but my brain translated in into a craving for Coke. There might be some similar learned behaviours between hard labourers and beer.