Cryptic crossword clue
Maybe cockroach one time found in tavern drunk with beer 12

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word INVERTEBRATE

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
I
N
V
E
R
T
E
B
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A
T
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Maybe cockroach" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case maybe cockroach = invertebrate.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does INVERTEBRATE mean?

INVERTEBRATE noun
  1. An animal without vertebrae, i.e. backbone.
  2. A spineless person; a coward.
INVERTEBRATE adjective
  1. Lacking a backbone.

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