Improved, not dry, perhaps mild (4)

I believe the answer is:

beer

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'perhaps mild' is the definition.
(mild is a kind of beer)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for beer that I've seen before include "Stout, for example" , "Hopped drink" , "Drink with a head" , "Drink brewed with malt" , "Fermented alcoholic beverage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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