Crossword Genius

Mostly bank on pub providing a lot of beer? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

barrel

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

'a lot of beer?' is the definition.
(beer is stored in barrels)

'mostly bank on pub providing' is the wordplay.
'mostly' means to remove the last letter.
'bank' becomes 'rely' (to bank on is to rely on).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'pub providing' becomes 'bar' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'rely' with its final letter taken off is 'rel'.
'rel' put after 'bar' is 'BARREL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for barrel that I've seen before include "Cylindrical crate" , "full of laughs?" , "Beer/oil container" , "Cylinder with metal hoops" , "Cheerful old song: 'Roll out the . . . . . .'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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