I don't know if it matters if it's beer or water or whatever. Not too long ago I was cooking them on a Sunday and if you didn't know we have "Blue Laws" here and can't buy beer on Sunday. So I drank half the beer and topped it off with water and couldn't tell a difference in the chicken. Maybe it doesn't evaporate quite as fast but I doubt it. I guess that was like cooking a chicken with Coors Lite.