A carbonated protein beverage composition and a method of making it relate to a beverage prepared using a cold-fill preparation and packaging process and carbonation in the container prior to sealing, providing a protein beverage composition with a protein content of about 2.0% by weight to about 6% by weight protein, carbon dioxide at level of between about 1.6 volumes to about 3.5 volumes, a pH of between about 2.0 to about 3.4, and at least one additional ingredient, wherein both, at the time of packaging of the protein beverage composition and during subsequent storage without refrigeration for a time period of at least 18 months after packaging, substantial solubility of the protein is maintained in the beverage composition, and the protein beverage is essentially free of active microbes known to be harmful to human health in the absence of a preservative, wherein the essentially free from active microbe condition is created by the inactivation of microbes by carbonation.
