What characteristic does "clean yeast" indicate in biere de garde?

The term "clean yeast" in the context of biere de garde typically refers to the yeast's ability to produce a beer with minimal fruity esters and phenolic compounds, allowing other flavors, particularly malt, to shine through. In this style, brewers often aim for a malt-focused character, highlighting the malt profile without aggressive yeast aromas.

This is particularly important in biere de garde, as the style is known for its rich maltiness and complex flavors that emerge from the malt and fermentation process. While some esters can be desirable in beer, a clean yeast ensures that the malt-forward character of the beer is prominent, facilitating a balanced and harmonious flavor profile.

In contrast, a strong fruity aroma, high carbonation, or low alcohol content do not align with the characteristics specified in the context of a clean yeast profile in biere de garde, as these aspects may detract from the primary malt focus that is integral to this particular beer style.