An apparatus for hot filling containers with protein beverage may comprise a batch tank adapted for receiving a protein beverage, a first heat exchanger adapted for heating the protein beverage to a pasteurizing temperature, a reservoir adapted for receiving the protein beverage and having an overflow stream of the protein beverage, a filler adapted for at least partially filling containers with the protein beverage, a second heat exchanger adapted for cooling the overflow stream, a rework tank adapted for receiving the overflow stream, and a control valve adapted for controlling a percentage of the overflow stream recycled to the first heat exchanger from the rework tank such that the protein beverage remains substantially free of floc. A method for making a protein beverage substantially free of floc is also described.