Brown ale has no tax, reportedly? (8)
I believe the answer is:
brunette
'brown' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for brunette that I've seen before include "Unpreferred female" , "woman with brown hair" , "Unfair woman" , "She's certainly not blond" , "Dark lady" .)