Crossword Genius

Second-rate beer? Drunk endlessly threatening (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

baleful

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'threatening' is the definition.
(I know that threatening can be written as baleful)

'second-rate beer? drunk endlessly' is the wordplay.
'second rate' becomes 'b'.
'beer?' becomes 'ale' (type of beer).
'drunk endlessly' becomes 'ful' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'b'+'ale'+'ful'='BALEFUL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for baleful that I've seen before include "Malevolent" , "Menacing - vindictive" , "Menacing - dejected" , "Threatening or foreshadowing evil" , "Menacing - gloomy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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