A local brewery’s new blend is celebrating one South Bay woman’s work to give youth from all over Los Angeles County a space to learn, play and grow.
The Community Hero Hard Seltzer at Culture Brewing Co., in Manhattan Beach, launched this week in honor of Allison Hales, founder and CEO of Culture Club South Bay.
Hales started Culture Club, a beach camp for children 8 to 13 where they learn to surf, play volleyball and more, in 2020. The club is rooted in the history of Bruce’s Beach, where the camp takes place. Youth from all over the Los Angeles area participate in the camp, and Hales especially tries to bring kids who have not often or have never been to the shore.
Allison Hales, founder and CEO of Culture Club South Bay, was named Community Hero at Culture Brewing Co. in Manhattan Beach Thursday, April 23, 2026 for her work running a local youth beach camp for the past 6 years. A papaya mango flavored Community Hero Hard Seltzer on Culture Brewing’s menu for the next month will benefit Culture Club and honor Hales’ work. (Photo by Tyler Shaun Evains, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
Allison Hales, founder and CEO of Culture Club South Bay, was named Community Hero at Culture Brewing Co. in Manhattan Beach Thursday, April 23, 2026 for her work running a local youth beach camp for the past 6 years. A papaya mango flavored Community Hero Hard Seltzer on Culture Brewing’s menu for the next month will benefit Culture Club and honor Hales’ work. (Photo by Tyler Shaun Evains, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
Allison Hales, founder and CEO of Culture Club South Bay, was named Community Hero at Culture Brewing Co. in Manhattan Beach Thursday, April 23, 2026 for her work running a local youth beach camp for the past 6 years. A papaya mango flavored Community Hero Hard Seltzer on Culture Brewing’s menu for the next month will benefit Culture Club and honor Hales’ work. (Photo by Tyler Shaun Evains, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
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Allison Hales, founder and CEO of Culture Club South Bay, was named Community Hero at Culture Brewing Co. in Manhattan Beach Thursday, April 23, 2026 for her work running a local youth beach camp for the past 6 years. A papaya mango flavored Community Hero Hard Seltzer on Culture Brewing’s menu for the next month will benefit Culture Club and honor Hales’ work. (Photo by Tyler Shaun Evains, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
“The line ‘I believe the children are our future’ really resonates with me,” Hales said in a Q&A with Culture Brewing for the Community Hero recognition on Thursday, April 23, “is something I deeply believe in and has become the soundtrack and guiding inspiration behind Culture Club South Bay.”
The papaya mango flavored libation pays homage to Hales’ Jamaican heritage, and also comes in a frozen slushy version, garnished with lime, a slice of dried mango and a gummy peach ring.
It’ll be on the menu for a month, with 20% of proceeds benefitting Culture Club South Bay, said Kelly Oelschlager, manager of Culture Brewing in Manhattan Beach.
Hales is Culture Brewing’s second Community Hero, Oelschlager added, with the first one honored at the brewery’s flagship location in Solana Beach.
Thursday’s event was “to acknowledge her incredible work in the community with what she does for Culture Club South Bay,” Oelschlager said. “She’s such an incredible human.”
Although she spearheads the effort, Hales thanked the local community members who have helped keep Culture Club going.
“This community has been the backbone of this program; it takes a village,” Hales said. “We would not be able to do this without the Manhattan Beach that has kept us alive for six years.”
This spring’s camp session will begin on Saturday, April 25, in Manhattan Beach. A Hermosa Beach edition is also in the works, and could launch this fall, after funding fell short for the anticipated spring session to run on Sundays.
Culture Brewing started the Community Hero recognition to highlight extraordinary people who positively influence the lives of those around them, according to a display at the brewery that has Hales’ picture, and information about Culture Club and the Community Hero honor.
“Community heroes allow us to do what we do best,” the display says, “craft delicious beverages and provide a space where people can come together, connect and celebrate someone making a meaningful impact right here in our local community.”
The recognition ceremony was a double celebration — since Thursday was also Hales’ birthday.
Oelschlager surprised her with cookies with Hales’ picture on them from the local Beckers Bakery.
Hales said her vision for starting the Culture Club nonprofit was validated when she saw the name of the then-newly opened tap room six years ago.
“When I passed Culture Brewing in 2020, it felt like a sign, Hales said. “It reaffirmed that I had a strong vision and mission, and that bringing people together aligned perfectly with the spirit of Manhattan Beach.”
Everything came full circle last year, she added, when Culture Club hosted a fundraiser at Culture Brewing, 327 Manhattan Beach Blvd.