Modified ginger beer comes first -- about time (7)
I believe the answer is:
altered
'modified' is the definition.
('altered' can be similar in meaning to 'modified')
'ginger beer comes first about time' is the wordplay.
'ginger' becomes 'red' (red ginger is a kind of ginger).
'beer' becomes 'ale' (I've seen this before).
'comes first' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'time' becomes 't'.
'red' after 'ale' is 'alered'.
'alered' placed around 't' is 'ALTERED'.
(Other definitions for altered that I've seen before include "Changed, modified" , "Changed, adapted" , "Reformed" , "Treadle (anag)" , "Change" .)