A recent Wall Street Journal article discusses new low-cal, low-carb, even electrolyte-infused options that are turning craft beer from a reward into a recovery drink. 

���There���s definitely a trend to market craft beer to active people, and even some data that suggests active people are drinking more,��� said Christie Aschwanden in the article, a science writer whose book ���Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery��� (W.W. Norton & Company) examines the latest research on post-exercise recovery and the growing market for related products.

But will beer really aid your post-workout recovery? Ms. Aschwanden explained that, ���It���s drilled into us by sports drinks that electrolyte drinks are these magic pellets, but electrolytes are simply salt, and we���re really not deficient in them at all,��� she said. ���But beer is mostly water, so it is hydrating, and the carbs in beer are actually helpful in recovery.���

Another reason for a post-workout brew is that the biggest benefit might be booze itself. ���One thing that���s often neglected after a hard workout is the need to relax. It���s important to send a signal to the body that it���s time to recover,��� said Ms. Aschwanden, which is when a mug of suds might just do the trick. She added, of course, that ���The trick is to stop at just one.���