GREENE King’s Tolly English Ale has been voted as the best low-strength beer in the world.

Tolly English, which contains just 2.8% alcohol by volume and was launched by the Bury St Edmunds-based pubs and brewing group in September last year, picked up the World’s Best Low Strength Pale Beer title in the 2012 World Beer Awards.

More than 600 beers from 32 countries were entered for the awards, and were blind tasted by a panel of experts including some of the most renowned beer aficionados on the planet.

Tolly English, which because of its low alcohol content is subject to a lower rate of tax under a new flexible beer duty regime introduced last year, has proved popular with after-work drinkers and those looking to cut down on their alcohol intake.

And Dom South, marketing director for Greene King Brewing and Brands, believes its award is deserved recognition for the care and attention the company puts into crafting Tolly.

“We spent 18 months perfecting this brew using a blend of carefully-selected malts and hops, as well as water from the chalk wells below the brewery, so it’s really rewarding for the whole team to be voted the world’s best,” he said.

“It’s the obvious choice for those looking to enjoy the great taste of a cask ale without having to worry about it being too strong.”

He added: “Winning awards is always welcome, but it’s especially pleasing when we are recognised for the way our beers taste. We always strive to brew the best-tasting, best-quailty beers possible, so this is great news for all of us at Greene King.”

Tolly English – the name of which alludes to former Ipswich brewer Tolly Cobbold which in 2002 was acquired by Essex-based Ridley’s, which in turn was acquired by Greene King in2005 – was also recently awarded a silver medal at the International Beer Challenge, where Greene King’s Old Golden Hen also picked up a bronze,

The overall winner of the Pale Ale sector in the World Beer Awards and of the supreme World’s Best Beer title chosen from among all the sector winners was Deschutes Red Chair (6.2%abv) from Deschutes Brewery in Oregon, USA.

Another Suffolk winner at the World Beer Awards was St Peter’s Brewery, based at St Peter South Elmham, near Bungay, which saw its St Peter’s G-Free (4.2%abv) named as Best Gluten-Free Beer within the Speciality Beer sector of the European regional awards.