Sample an American beer -- sensational thing! (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
taste bud
'sensational thing' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'sample an american beer' is the wordplay.
'sample' becomes 'taste' (synonyms).
'an american beer' becomes 'bud' (I've seen this before).
'taste'+'bud'='TASTE-BUD'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for taste bud that I've seen before include "faculty?" , "Sensor on the tongue" , "Small sense organ on tongue" , "Sensitive part of tongue" , "Bust date (anag.)" .)