The use of ale, it could be said (5)

I believe the answer is:

avail

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'the use' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for avail that I've seen before include "Be useful" , "Use to one's advantage" , "Provide help; profit" , "Be of value to" , "Make use, take advantage" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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