Each clue refers to two words that are anagrams of each other. Only one of those words fits into the mini. (e.g., if the clue were "Majestic pilsner", it refers to both 'REGAL' and 'LAGER')
Interesting idea! I could figure out the options for the first few pretty easily, and then the intersection of MAIM/IMAM and LATER/ALERT resolved the ambiguity. From there it was pretty straightforward.