Exactly. The dopamine is likely released as a Pavlovian response based upon the taste and then anticipation of the effect of the alcohol in the beer.
Sheesh. How much did this study cost us?
Actually, I have conducted personal experiments and must say that some of the German non-alcoholic beers elicit a very strong dopamine response from my brain, and I don’t anticipate any alcohol effect.
OTOH, I don’t always drink beer but when I do, I prefer Guinness.