Crossword Genius

NE brown ale drunk in northeast is gone once it’s consumed (3-9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

non-renewable

'gone once it's consumed' is the definition.
(as in non-renewable energy sources)

'ne brown ale drunk in northeast' is the wordplay.
'drunk' is an anagram indicator.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'northeast' becomes 'NE' (abbreviation).
'ne'+'brown'+'ale'='nebrownale'
'nebrownale' with letters rearranged gives 'onrenewabl'.
'onrenewabl' inserted within 'ne' is 'NON-RENEWABLE'.

'is' is the link.

(Another definition for non-renewable that I've seen is " Cannot be replenished".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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