Mulled ale in the countryside (3)
I believe the answer is:
lea
'the countryside' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'mulled ale' is the wordplay.
'mulled' is an anagram indicator (letters processed or mulled over).
'ale' with letters rearranged gives 'LEA'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lea that I've seen before include "Land growing grass" , "Meadowland" , "grazing area" , "Open country" , "Pasture, London river" .)