Chap partial to Nottingham ales (4)
I believe the answer is:
male
'chap' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)
'partial to nottingham ales' is the wordplay.
'partial to' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (the answer forms part of the clue).
'MALE' can be found hidden inside 'nottingham ales'.
(Other definitions for male that I've seen before include "man?" , "A gender" , "One cannot have babies" , "As are drakes, bulls etc." , "Maldives capital; masculine" .)