Crossword Genius

Special gear and excellent beer from the rear (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

regalia

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'special gear' is the definition.
'regalia' can be an answer for 'gear' (regalia is a kind of gear). I'm unsure of the 'special' bit.

'excellent beer from the rear' is the wordplay.
'excellent' becomes 'ai' (resembles 'A1', old-fashioned term for excellent).
'beer' becomes 'lager' (type of beer).
'from the rear' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'ai'+'lager'='ailager'
'ailager' written backwards gives 'REGALIA'.

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for regalia that I've seen before include "Finery" , "Paraphernalia indicative of high office" , "Royal items" , "Orb and sceptre, for example" , "Algeria (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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