Leave it to infuse in boiling water and have an ale? (4)

I believe the answer is:

brew

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'ale?' is the definition.
(ale is a kind of brew)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for brew that I've seen before include "Steep" , "Infuse" , "A pot of tea?" , "Make beer by boiling and fermentation" , "Mixture" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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