Sergeant major swigging beer in US state capital (5)
I believe the answer is:
salem
'state capital' is the definition.
(state capital of Oregon)
'sergeant major swigging beer' is the wordplay.
'sergeant major' becomes 'SM' (abbreviation for sergeant major).
'swigging' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'beer' becomes 'ale' (type of beer).
'sm' going around 'ale' is 'SALEM'.
'in us' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for salem that I've seen before include "Witches' home" , "US city" , "Capital of Oregon, USA" , "Oregon's capital" , "Location of US witch trials" .)