While similar data from the rest of the continent appears to be lacking, it’s important to remember that the beer of yesterday was very different from the beer of today. In the absence of fermentable sugars from the grapes that were more abundant in the east, the old brewers in the north and west of Europe turned to honey, berries, and other fruits. They were constantly experimenting with different ingredients to create more intoxicating drinks. So in addition to the nightshades, why not other mind-altering compounds?
