Alcoholic drink almost better after the end of Lent (8)
I believe the answer is:
nightcap
'alcoholic drink' is the definition.
(alcoholic drink before bed)
'almost better after the end of lent' is the wordplay.
'almost' becomes 'nigh' (nigh can mean almost or nearly).
'better' becomes 'cap' (both can mean to beat somebody else's attempt).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the end of' indicates one should take the final letters.
The final letter of 'lent' is 't'.
'cap' after 't' is 'tcap'.
'nigh'+'tcap'='NIGHTCAP'
(Other definitions for nightcap that I've seen before include "that may go to one's head?" , "something you get at the eleventh hour?" , "Bedtime tipple" , "Bedtime beverage" , "A drink before bed, wearing nocturnal headgear" .)