What is the lowest score that can be assigned to "Problematic" beers according to standard practice?

In the context of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), problematic beers are those that exhibit faults or significant flaws, making them undesirable for competition. The scoring system for BJCP is designed to reflect the quality and overall impression of the beer presented for evaluation.

For beers categorized as "Problematic," a score of 6 points is typically the lowest that can be assigned. This score indicates a drinkable product, albeit one that has noticeable defects that detract from its overall quality. It serves to recognize that while the beer has serious issues, it is not entirely unpalatable or devoid of merit, as lower scores would indicate a beer that is undrinkable or has severe flaws. Thus, this structure helps judges to provide constructive feedback and allows for differentiation between varying levels of quality issues in beers.

Assigning a score of 6 points, therefore, aligns with standard practice, acknowledging the beer's drinkability while still highlighting its problematic nature.