Listener Crossword 4728: Solution Notes
Bream by Check
Puzzle explanation
The letters missing in clues spelt out “mix in mashed barley, decant wort, add hops, ferment sugar”. Thus the letters of BARLEY filled the gaps in the bottom row (to make BREATHALYSERS), WORT in 33ac was changed to HOPS and GLUCOSE at 27ac became ALCOHOL. The brewing process’s waste gas CARBON DIOXIDE completed the blank top row. The puzzle’s title referred to “amber liquid”.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Missing letter | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 10 | (M)ale | HERNIA | NARNIA with HE for NA |
| 11 | Marr(I)ed | MUSSES | M + USES around S |
| 13 | Anne(X) | BEL | (Bo)LE(yn) < after B |
| 15 | ru(I)ns | MARSALA | MARS + A + LA |
| 16 | li(N)es | LOADED | (O + AD) in LED |
| 17 | bu(M)s | NATAL | TA in LAN < |
| 19 | pl(A)y | EMPERISE | PER in (DEMISE − D) |
| 21 | (S)Top | HOSEA | HO + S(cholar) + AE < |
| 24 | Clot(H) | TOILINET | (TITLE ON + I(TV)) * |
| 27 | past(E) | GLUCOSE | COS in GLUE |
| 29 | Woo(D) | GOLGOTHA | LOG < + GOTH + A |
| 32 | (B)All | OSIER | O + REIS < |
| 33 | o(A)r | BELLWORT | BELT around (L(ichen) + ROW <) |
| 37 | (R)aiding | ANTRA | (Seal)ANT RA(iding) |
| 40 | co(L)t | GOALIE | (f)OAL in GIE |
| 41 | N(E)W | STENTOR | RENTS * around TO |
| 42 | (Y)ear | OBA | OB + A; O’ + BA |
| 43 | waste(D) | HENBIT | HET around BIN * |
| 44 | (E)state | SWEENY | S(allo)W E(stat)E N(ormall)Y |
| Down | |||
| 1 | (C)Lever | ABLE | (t)ABLE |
| 2 | (A)sleep | ELAPSE | ASLEEP * |
| 3 | Easter(N) | RIDE | DIR < + E |
| 4 | No(T) | NE’ER | NEWER − W |
| 5 | (W)ET | AMP | (d)AMP |
| 6 | Prosper(O) | MAGE | A GEM with M moved up |
| 7 | (R)ink | URN | (o)U(r) R(i)N(k) |
| 8 | a(T)las | SATIN | SAT IN |
| 9 | (A)bout | ELATED | ED around LATE |
| 12 | Wil(D)ly | SALUTER | ALTERS * around U |
| 14 | tra(D)itors | ADIT | (tr)ADIT(ors) |
| 18 | (H)era | ARIES | ARES around I |
| 20 | To(O) | ALSO | A(spiring) L(istener) S(etters) O(bserve) |
| 21 | grip(P)ing | HOGWASH | HASH around (O + (Chi)GW(ell)) |
| 22 | (S)nags | EGGER | EGER around G(ood-natured) |
| 23 | (F)olio | ALOW | A + WOLF < − F |
| 25 | y(E)arn | OCH | O’ + (a)CH(e) |
| 26 | ma(R)ker | COUNTER | TUNE * in COR |
| 28 | du(M)ped | VIOLONE | VIOL(ence) + ONE |
| 30 | ant(E) | LATEN | ((A + L) after NET) < |
| 31 | scree(N)s | ALGA | AA around L(ackin)G |
| 33 | S(T)ock | BROTH | BROTHER − ER |
| 34 | (S)core | LOVE | 2 meanings |
| 35 | ho(U)ses | WADES | ((mes)SED AW(ait)) < |
| 36 | ban(G) | TEALS | SLAT < around E |
| 38 | be(A)t | AT IT | (be)AT I T(anked) |
| 39 | (R)and | URSA | R in USA |