Protein beverage and method of making the same

A method of preparing a protein beverage, comprising:

• admixing an aqueous protein isolate collected from membrane-filtration isolation of the protein in its native state without substantial drying at a concentration by weight of about 0.01% to about 49% actual protein substantially free of caseinate;
• wherein the aqueous protein isolate is derived from one or more of edible aqueous proteins selected from the group consisting of:
• whey protein, soy protein, lactalbumin, serum albumin, glycolmacropeptide, rice protein, pea protein, canola protein, wheat protein, hemp protein, zein, flax protein, egg white protein, ovalbumin, or a gelatin protein;
• wherein said aqueous protein isolate has been freshly collected from membrane-filtration isolation or has been stored or transported after being collected from membrane-filtration isolation,
• slowly mixing said aqueous protein isolate with water to dilute the aqueous protein isolate to a concentration of no more than about 25% by weight protein content;
• admixing acid with the diluted aqueous protein isolate in an acidification process to provide an acidified admixture at a pH ranging from about 2 to about 6.0 thereby obtaining an admixture for preparing the protein beverage;
• storing or transporting the aqueous protein isolate acidified admixture over a time period of several days prior to further processing, if any, and optionally without drying, thermal processing, or other sterilization treatment at any time in the process;
• whereby substantial solubility and stability of the protein without sedimentation is maintained in the aqueous protein isolate throughout the storage and transportation period, and whereby said aqueous protein isolate is essentially free of active microbes known to be harmful to human health throughout the storage and transportation period;
• wherein the resulting protein composition has a protein concentration by weight of between about 0.01% and about 24% representing a range from single-strength beverage protein level to a concentrate suitable for acidification, nutrient addition, transport to a beverage manufacturing facility and subsequent dilution, and containerization;
• and
• optionally inactivating microbes in the resulting composition without thermal processing or other sterilization treatment at any time in the process.