So unless you plan to drink it in mass quantities, it shouldn't be much of an issue. But then, if that was the case, obesity probably wouldn't be your main problem anyhow!
I think beer gets its bad rep because it is associated with the consumption of unhealthy snackfoods like pretzels, chips and pizza. That is what causes the "beer belly" more than anything else.
Beer is essentially a pure substance. Barley, hops, yeast and water. That's it (unless you're drinking Budweiser that contains rice). In moderate consumption, it is a good part of a healthy, natural-food based diet.
In fact, it is far worse to drink a Diet Coke than to drink a beer. All that aspartame and all those other additives. Yuck. Not good for you at all.
As for your point on excessive exercise, walking five miles a day is hardly excessive. I believe the human body was designed for walking. It is in fact the perfect exercise and the exercise that puts the least strain on your body. Even those who have had heart attacks can safely incorporate a walking regimen into their routine. What's good about walking is you can do it anytime, anywhere. Just put on a good pair of shoes and go. Whenever I travel, I don't have to worry about searching for weight rooms and such. I just get out there and explore the neighborhood.
No, I DO agree with you about walking. Never took issue with that; it was your earlier point that you MUST exercise literally EVERY day that I took philosophical "objection" to. It just sorta flies in the face of all fitness teaching I've ever read or received over the years.
....and I'll also add that I tend to look at this from a weightlifting or strength training point of view rather than walking. There definitely are "points of diminishing returns" in such workouts. Anything over an hour.........actually can be detrimental rather than good. Three-a-week workouts like this can do one hell of a lot of good. MaxOT (the one I pointed you too earlier; the workout we use) has both a 3-day and a 5-day weekly regimen. Both work great; I just prefer the 5 day (but it's ALL rather brutal, must admit).