Beer alternative to a 44-Across

PORTER

This dark, malty brew shares its name with a type of laborer and was a staple in 18th-century London pubs.

This clue assumes you’ve already solved 44-Across, which is likely "STOUT"—a dark, heavy beer. "Porter" is another rich, malty beer style often grouped with stout, making it a direct alternative. The wordplay is straightforward: if 44-Across is "stout," then "porter" fits as its beer-style counterpart. It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank reference for beer enthusiasts.