Mead, malts, and even wines used to be quite nutritious and the recipes often involved a good number of ingredients, not just for flavor, but for preservation. Low levels of alcohol are anti-microbial, but by itself will not prevent spoilage.
Imagine living in a place where grabbing a brew was not just a refreshing rehydration while working in the summer sun, but also packed with vitamins and phyto-nutrients. What a sad way we have come to the present age of mass-manufactured piss water.
There was a time in the US, early to mid 1800’s, when ‘beer’ was the favorite breakfast drink for all Americans...........mainly because the waters would kill you............