Cold beer first: one Guinness so handled (4)
I believe the answer is:
alec
But I can't explain it at all! Could you help me understand?
(Other definitions for alec that I've seen before include "Sir - Douglas-Home, former PM" , "Smart ..., he thinks he knows everything" , "Smart boy?" , "Guinness (a smart lad?)" , "Actor Guinness is smart" .)