Crossword Genius

Knock back beer, some amount, in style (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

elan

'style' is the definition.
(I know that dash can be written as elan)

'knock back beer some amount' is the wordplay.
'knock back' is a reversal indicator.
'beer' becomes 'ale' (type of beer).
'some amount' becomes 'n' (in maths, n can represent any number).
'ale' backwards is 'ela'.
'ela'+'n'='ELAN'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for elan that I've seen before include "Panache - ardour" , "Dash in France" , "Vitality" , "Snap" , "French verve" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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