Processing and treating yogurt acid whey(YAW), a byproduct of Greek yogurt production, can be expensive, because of some of its characteristics such as pH, astringency and saltiness. A cost-effective strategy is to scale up YAW as an ingredient in food items to make use of this sensory profile, with minimum re-processing. YAW still has unignorable amount of carbohydrates and electrolytes, which can be utilized in a sports drink formulation. In order to reduce undesirable dairy flavor, YAW can be treated with activated carbon for deodorization. A consumer sensory study(n=100) was conducted using hedonic and just-about-right scales, to determine optimal deodorization time. A recovery effect test(n=31) was conducted where panelists ran on treadmills then compared the recovery effects of a YAW sports beverage, water and Gatorade. Ratings of perceived suitability as a recovery beverage, rehydration effect , overall liking and recovery were collected demonstrating YAW’s promise as a sports recovery beverage.