This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Monday, January 19, 2026 (46 Across). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Monday puzzles are the easiest of the week, so the clue is likely a plain definition.
How to read this clue
The question mark warns of wordplay. Expect a pun or a second meaning rather than a straight definition.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
A _ _
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About the answer
ALE as a word: A beer produced by so-called warm fermentation and not pressurized; A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor drunk.
ALE has been an answer 21 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 4, 2025.
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