Crossword Genius

If I leave a pip in the beer, you can eat it! (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

apple

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'beer you can eat it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'if i leave a pip in' is the wordplay.
'if' becomes 'ale' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'leave' is a deletion indicator.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'pip' with 'i' taken away is 'pp'.
'ale' going around 'pp' is 'APPLE'.

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for apple that I've seen before include "US computer company" , "Orchard fruit" , "One poisoned Disney's Snow White" , "Fruit tree" , "award from Paris" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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