Hammer Nutrition suggests taking your protein shake just before bed - they claim that having protein just before bed (without carbs) helps to stimulate your body's production of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which helps with recovery.
Most weightlifters do the same thing, because your body does most of its muscle synthesis at night while you're asleep.
On days when I've worked out hard, I have a shake just before going to bed. Typically, it contains 20-25 grams of whey protein in a glass of water, with 5-10 grams of glutamine (which seems to help with recovery and muscle soreness).
it isn't just hammer nutrition. That's pretty much what you do to gain muscle mass.
a protien shake in the morning is pretty useless. Your body is building while you sleep, not while you are going through your workday.
also remember that your body can only use somewhere around 40 grams of protien at a time. Extra protien is just worked out through your kidneys or stored as fat or something like that, so don't go too crazy there.
The real benefit of the protien shakes and powders is that the protiens are already broken down into a form your body can use directly so you don't have to break down the meat in your digestive tract. It can be used faster, basically.
but the point is you can also eat lean meats and fish to get your required protien. You can also eat combinations of non meats like bread and cheese or beans and rice to get all 8 essential amino acids. That's what our veggie brothers and sisters do. It's a good thing protien is so easy to get into your diet. Otherwise human beings would never have made it this long.