Beer barrel a German holds (5)
I believe the answer is:
lager
'beer' is the definition.
(lager is a kind of beer)
'barrel a german holds' is the wordplay.
'holds' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'LAGER' is hidden in the letters of 'barrel a german'.
(Other definitions for lager that I've seen before include "The drink could be regal" , "Type of beer" , "A regal sort of drink" , "Light-coloured beer" , "Light-bodied beer" .)