BruceNolteN3LSY& Hi Bruce
Kegs are great for bulk storage. There is a stainless steel ring that holds the dip tube in place. Removing it is not hard. First and foremost relieve the pressure in the keg. The easiest and safest way is by installing a tap and opening it up. This will allow the CO2 to escape along with any remaining beer. If you don't have a tap place a rag over the ball and press on it with your thumb, or you can use a dowel rod. Once you are absolutely sure the pressure is out of the keg you can proceed. Look closely at the top of the dip tube and you will see the ring. Work a tool like a small, thin screwdriver into the top of the ring at the end and pry on it until you can get enough of it out of the space to grab it with a pair of pliers. You will be trying to move the end of the ring toward the center of the tube where the ball is located. Once you can get purcase on the ring with pliers continue to pry on it with screwdriver while pulling with pliers. Eventually it move. It's springy and will resist this procedure but you can remove it. Once you've removed it twist the tube to line up the pins with the slots on the top of the tap mount and pull out the dip tube. Clean it and save the parts. You may decide to make beer someday. Thoroughly clean the keg. A number 10.5 stopper (try several: your keg may require a #10 or a #11) should fit in the hole and you are ready to go.
Americans tap wine over beer50 glbuttes a year? That's less than one per week. I would guess that that's the average for all Americans, not just wine drinkers. "Per capita wine consumption in the United...
HTH
Frank
