The cost of precious fuels is going up. From pain at the pumps to pressure at the taps, Canadians are shelling out for gas and beer.  While some drivers got a break Friday morning, thanks to BT, the price is continuing to climb.

It's enough to drive you to drink. But that may be a problem, because the cost of a pint is on the rise.

The beer companies are facing a one-two punch. They're suffering with high oil prices for deliveries, but they're also facing a worldwide shortage of a key ingredient.

Hops give beer its characteristic bitterness and the flowering vine is in short supply, thanks to drought in many European countries. C****ined with worldwide high prices for grain, it's caused a huge spike in cost.

Andrew Oland, president of Moosehead Brewery says that "whether that would be for hops, for barley or for corn products, [the prices] are just going through the roof. It's a challenging time for consumers, and for beer manufacturers."

That's backed up by Greg Taylor of Steamwhistle. He's worried about the long-term implications of the shortage.

"This has created the situation where you don't have as many people growing hops and malt across the world, and now the supplies are starting to dwindle," he points out.

He says other suds companies are calling him. "We've had people calling us wondering if there were any hops available to us, and good luck to those guys."

One consumer admits that, "basically the price is the major factor." But drinkers may be left high - and dry - in a summer that could see the cost of a case climb $2-$3.

What are hops?

Here's a look at what you're paying, coast to coast, for the big four beers.  Bottles are all 341 ml, sold in packs of 24; cans are 355 ml, sold in packs of 24.

Coors Light (brewed by Molson Ontario Breweries Ltd)

Ontario, bottle: $36.50

Ontario, can: $39.95

BC, can: $38:85

Nova Scotia, bottle: $38.99

Molson Canadian (brewed by Molson Ontario Breweries Ltd)

Ontario, bottle: $36.50

Ontario, can: $39.95

BC, can: $38.85

Nova Scotia, bottle: $37.98

Labatt Blue (brewed by Labatt Ontario Breweries Ltd)

Ontario, bottle: $36.50

Ontario, can: $39.95

BC, can: $38.45

Nova Scotia, bottle: $37.98

Budweiser (brewed by Labatt Ontario Breweries Ltd)

Ontario, bottle: $36.50

Ontario, can: $39.95

BC, can: $38.85

Nova Scotia, bottle: $38.99

It's expensive to be a drunkard in Canada :(